Shahryar Khan hints at changes in Pakistan’s entire management

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan has stated that team administration would be held accountable for the debacle in the Asia Cup 2016. Pakistan crashed out of the tournament after suffering second defeat against Bangladesh by five wickets on Wednesday. Shahryar said that changes would come, but it will take some time. He insisted that Shahid Afridi will remain the captain of the T20 side unless he himself pulls out.

“Team administration will be held accountable. There will be changes in every department, but it will take time. I assure you that before the World T20, there will be changes,” the 81-year-old said while talking to the media at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

“It wasn’t just a matter of disappointment but it was a painful experience to watch Pakistan play like that. The performance was very poor other then few individuals’ performances, but I can assure that accountability is inevitable and whoever is responsible has to answer. Changes are important in the electoral process and leadership but we have to sit and think wisely. We are not going to make anyone a scapegoat or do the witch hunt but whatever we will do it will be done with clarity,” Shahryar said.

Shahryar also quelled speculations about a possible change in the captaincy before the World T20 by declaring that the board had no plans to remove Afridi. He said the flamboyant all-rounder would remain in charge for the mega event in India. “I promised Afridi that he will be retained as Pakistan captain until the end of the World T20,” he said.

Accepting the criticism at the team’s performance he stated, “I understand there is a lot of criticism but I am not going to change anything one week before the major tournament in India. Afridi will remain captain unless he himself pulls out of the job. He has been serving Pakistan from the last 15 years. There are problems in his captaincy which can’t be mended and especially at a time when his career is about to be end.”