PCB meeting turns fiery as Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi’s real colours exposed

Pakistan cricket has yet again found itself in the center of controversy after a player made some shocking revelations about the captain Mohammad Rizwan and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi. Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held a meeting following the team’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where a selector’s revelations stunned one and all.

As reported by Cricket Pakistan, a fiery discussion took place during the PCB meeting regarding Mohammad Rizwan’s remarks after Pakistan’s six-wicket defeat to India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

Mohammad Rizwan’s post-match remark stuns PCB and selectors

During the post-match team huddle, Mohammad Rizwan reportedly told his teammates not to worry about the loss, as the wins and losses are part of the game. But the most shocking thing was that Mohammad Rizwan said that it would be the coaches and selectors, not the players, who would face consequences for the Men in Green’s poor campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

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It is being said that Mohammad Rizwan’s statement did not sit well with PCB officials, especially since it was leaked to the national selectors by one of the players. Given that, the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, didn’t take any immediate actions, as the coaching staff and selectors’ jobs have been saved for now.

Shaheen Afridi under fire for his on-field decisions

Adding to the drama, an official raised concerns about Shaheen Afridi’s approach in the board meeting. The report claimed that Afridi didn’t follow the coaches’ instructions during matches. The star pacer was reportedly asked to bowl yorkers, but he followed his own strategies instead.

Later, Shaheen Afridi was removed from Pakistan’s ODI team as the selectors and PCB deemed the star pacer ineffective for the One Day cricket. He was only picked in the T20I squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series in New Zealand later this month.

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India vs Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash shatters viewership records

Meanwhile, the India vs. Pakistan rivalry has always been a spectacle for the fans across the globe, and their group match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 took it to another level. This match lived up to its reputation as one of the biggest sporting rivalries despite the on-field actions being one-sided.

This high-voltage encounter between India and Pakistan in Dubai last month has shattered all previous viewership records. According to JioStar, the India-Pakistan clash in the Champions Trophy 2025 drew an astonishing 20.6 crore live viewers, surpassing the numbers of the 2023 World Cup.

Television ratings also hit new heights, recording a 10.8% increase compared to their clash in the 2023 ODI World Cup match in Ahmedabad. With the latest numbers, the India-Pakistan game has now become the second most-watched match in television history.

JioStar Sports spokesperson stated, “JioStar continues to set new milestones in India’s engagement with major sporting events. With a focus on deep consumer engagement, immersive storytelling, universal access, and impactful marketing, Star Sports has successfully ignited passion for this iconic rivalry. We are committed to further enhancing the fan experience and expanding our audience base.”