PCB Chief Zaka Ashraf Plotted Babar Azam's Removal As Pakistan Captain, Alleged Audio Leak Claims

Pakistan Cricket has been engulfed in yet another controversy after an audio leak purportedly featuring Zaka Ashraf, the interim management committee chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), plotting to sack Babar Azam as the national team's all-format captain.

The leaked audio recording, doing the rounds on social media, has once again ignited discussions on the influence of player agents, team dynamics, and the controversies surrounding the selection process in Pakistan Cricket.

Fresh Controversy Grips Pakistan Cricket

The leaked audio allegedly is a recording of a private conversation between Zaka Ashraf and a family member. In the discussion, Ashraf discusses plans to replace Babar as the captain of Pakistan's white-ball formats.

Under Babar's captaincy, Pakistan had a failed campaign in the ODI World Cup 2023 held in India where the Men In Green were eliminated from the group stage.

In the alleged recording, Ashraf could be heard revealing a calculated strategy to force Babar to step down. The voice believed to be Ashraf's discloses the consideration of Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi as the Test and T20 captains, respectively.

The conversation further delved into the role of player agents and the purported culture of friendship within the team. Babar is accused of recruiting close friends into the team, with specific mention of the players selected for the World Cup being clients of Saya Corporation. This allegation prompted chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq's resignation during the tournament.

The audio leak reveals Ashraf's attempt to influence Babar's decision to step down as the captain. Ashraf claims to have suggested to the right-handed batter that he should continue as the Test captain while relinquishing the white-ball captaincy. However, the leaked recording suggests that Ashraf had a backup plan in place and eventually convinced Babar to step down from both captaincy roles.

Outsider's Influence On Pakistan Team Selection

The conversation also exposes the alleged influence of player agent Talha Rehmani, the CEO of Saya Corporation, in the selection process. Ashraf accused Rehmani of controlling multiple players in the national team, signing contracts, and building strong relationships with players' families.

The voice on the recording expresses resentment towards Rehmani's influence and discloses plans to review the PCB's policy regarding player agents.

The leaked audio also contained discussions about Babar's alleged insistence on playing close friend Shadab Khan, who reportedly underperformed during the World Cup.

Furthermore, the conversation touched upon the role of other players like Hasan Ali, raising concerns about the deteriorating state of Pakistan cricket.

The audio leak involving Zaka Ashraf has opened Pandora's box, exposing power struggles, player-agent influence, and controversies within the Pakistan cricket setup. The PCB's response to these revelations will be crucial in addressing concerns.