T20 World Cup 2024: PCB Refute Report of Pakistan Vice Captaincy Role Offer to Any Player Before Squad Announcement

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has refuted a report of any player being offered the role of the men's team vice captain before the T20 World Cup 2024 squad announcement on Friday (May 24).

Pakistan was the last team to announce their 15-member squad for the show-piece tournament, which will be held in the United States and West Indies in June. The squad was revealed a day before the deadline for team's to make any alterations to their groups.

While the competing teams can still make changes to their squads, they will now need ICC's approval to make any modifications to their playing group for the T20 World Cup.

One thing that came to many fans' notice was that Pakistan had not announced a deputy to Babar Azam in the squad despite reports of the vice captain also likely to be named on Friday (May 25).

A day after the squad announcement, a report from ESPN Cricinfo claimed that Shaheen Afridi, who was replaced from the captaincy role earlier this year, was offered to be the vice captain, but the pacer rejected the role.

The report further added that Shaheen was the primary choice, but after his rejection, the selectors also looked at former vice captain Shadab Khan. But as the all-rounder may not be an immediate selection in the starting 11, they decided on passing on him as well.

Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan's name was also discussed, but was rejected considering that they wanted a younger player to take up the role. However, PCB has rejected claims of the report and said there was no offer made.

"During Friday's selection committee meeting, discussions on the vice-captaincy took place. However, it was unanimously decided not to appoint anyone. As such, no offer was made to any player," PCB posted on X.

"The side is fully united, committed and keenly looking forward to the upcoming matches in the UK and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024," the tweet further read as Pakistan Cricket Board stressed that the team is fully united.

On Saturday (May 25), Pakistan suffered a 23-run loss to England in the second T20I at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham after the first T20I was abandoned due to rain in Leeds.