PCB chief Zaka Ashraf's alleged plan to remove Babar Azam as Pakistan captain surfaces in leaked audio clip

A leaked audio recording has added fuel to the fire that Pakistani cricket finds itself engulfed in of late, allegedly revealing Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf’s plot to remove Babar Azam as captain from all formats.

According to a report on Dawn, the voice making the explosive claims in the clip allegedly belongs to PCB interim management chairman Ashraf, who is believed to be having a private discussion with a female member of his family. The discussion also touches upon the appointments of Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi as captains besides Babar’s removal from the job.

Babar had resigned as captain from all three formats of the game following a disappointing ICC World Cup campaign, where Pakistan suffered four defeats in a row and failed to reach the semi-finals. In the recording, however, Ashraf claims he had asked Babar to stay on as Test captain.

“I asked Babar to stay on as Test captain, but told him that I was thinking of removing him as the white-ball captain. Babar told me he would consult his family and then convey his decision,” the voice, believed to be that of Ashraf, is heard saying in the audio clip.

Ashraf would also touch upon the influence of player management company Saya Corporation, to which Babar and several other members of the current Pakistan team are signed to. The PCB chief believed that while Babar was claiming he would consult his family, he would actually be speaking with Saya Corporation CEO Talha Reh­mani.

“Talha advised him to leave everything. I had a Plan-B prepared should such a situation arise and when Babar told me he was stepping down, I called him (Masood or Afridi) and told him that you’re the captain now.

“He (Talha) has controlled eight players of the national team. He has signed contracts with the players… He is such a smart guy that he has built a lot of relationships with the players’ families by going to the players’ houses, and the players can’t move without him,” Ashraf was heard telling his family member.

Babar was also accused of recruiting players he’s friends with, most of whom are also managed by Saya including spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan. Shadab would end up having a below-par outing in the World Cup despite being rated highly going into the tournament.

The involvement of Saya Corporation in the Pakistan team is also believed to have led to the ouster of Inzamam-ul-Haq from the post of chief selector with the former captain reportedly having a stake in the firm.