“Don’t Hold a Press Conference After…” – Wasim Akram’s Cheeky Advice for PCB Sparks Controversy

Legendary Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Wasim Akram has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their decision to remove Salman Butt from his role as a consultant to Chief Selector Wahab Riaz. In a video shared on social media platform X, Akram expressed his disagreement with the PCB’s action and advised them to stick to their decisions without constantly changing their stance. He urged the PCB to consider the consequences of their decisions and to be brave in their choices.

The controversy arose after Chief Selector Wahab Riaz held a press conference to announce that Butt’s appointment had been withdrawn from the consulting panel with immediate effect. Butt, who had represented Pakistan in both red-ball and white-ball formats, had previously been involved in a spot-fixing incident during a Test against England at Lords in 2010. As a result, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and banned from playing cricket for 10 years.

Butt’s appointment as a consultant to the selection panel faced opposition within the PCB. A report by ESPNcricinfo stated that an employee of the cricket board was uncomfortable with Butt’s appointment and even threatened to resign.

Earlier, on Friday, the PCB had named former players Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, and Butt as consultants to the chief selector. Their appointment was made with immediate effect, and their first assignment was supposed to be the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on January 12 after the overseas tour of Australia.

The PCB’s decision to remove Butt from his role as a consultant has sparked debate and criticism. Wasim Akram’s comments have added to the discussion and highlighted the need for the PCB to carefully consider their choices and stand by their decisions. The controversy surrounding Butt’s appointment serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity and trust in the world of cricket.