'I would be PCB chairman if I had influence,' says Shahid Afridi

Former Pakistan cricket team captain and iconic all-rounder Shahid Khan Afridi has said that if he had the influence, he would have been the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by now.

While speaking to the media in Gilgit, Afridi reflected on the current state of Pakistan cricket. He remarked, "If I had influence, I would be the PCB Chairman today. During our time, the national team had many match-winners, but that's no longer the case."

He said, "Players in Under-16, Under-17, and Under-19 setups need proper training, which can only be achieved through strong, skilled individuals working at the lower levels of the cricketing system."

Commenting on domestic cricket, the former captain criticised the involvement of bureaucrats in technical cricket matters. "If you hand over the domestic cricket structure to a bureaucrat, no one will understand how it should run," he stated. Afridi also expressed his concerns about the politically influenced appointments in the PCB, saying, "Every PCB Chairman is appointed on political grounds. Changing faces won't change the system."

He further added that if genuine cricketing talent exists in Gilgit-Baltistan, it will not be wasted. "If I ever become part of the PCB, I'll join for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. I won't need any contracts or personal benefits," Afridi concluded.

Earlier, Shahid Afridi advised Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to appoint the right people in the right positions.