The uncertainty surrounding Shaheen Shah Afridi’s tenure as Pakistan’s T20I captain has prompted former cricketer Shahid Afridi, who is also Shaheen’s father-in-law, to voice his support for him. Recent reports suggest that Shaheen might be replaced by Babar Azam ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Shahid Afridi believes that if someone is appointed captain, they should be given enough time to prove themselves. He argues that changing the captain now would indicate a mistake in the initial decision-making process.
Shaheen Afridi took over the T20I captaincy after Babar Azam stepped down following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. However, Shaheen’s leadership faced criticism after Pakistan suffered a 4-1 series defeat against New Zealand and Lahore Qalandars, under his captaincy, performed poorly in the Pakistan Super League season nine.
The new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, stated that the decision regarding the captaincy would be made by the new selection committee after considering various technical factors. Naqvi emphasized the importance of a long-term solution rather than making frequent changes based on match outcomes.
Pakistan is scheduled to host New Zealand for a five-match series starting from April 18, followed by T20Is against England and Ireland before the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.
