Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi talked on Thursday after being named the national team’s T20I captain.
The lanky fast-bowler took over for Babar Azam.
Shaheen stated on X, formerly Twitter, that he is honored to lead the Men in Green in the game’s shortest format.
“I am honoured and thrilled to lead our national T20 cricket team. Thank you to the Pakistan cricket board and fans for their trust and support,” Shaheen said.
“I’ll give my best to uphold the team spirit and bring glory to our nation on the cricket field.
“Our success lies in unity, trust and relentless effort. We are not just a team; we are a brotherhood, a family. Together, we rise!”
Shaheen’s inaugural captaincy role is slated for the upcoming five-match T20I series in New Zealand in January. The 23-year-old, renowned for his 64 wickets in 52 T20Is, has previously led Lahore Qalandars to victory in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), securing titles in both the 2022 and 2023 editions.
It’s worth noting that Azam, after declining the PCB’s offer to retain Test captaincy, announced his resignation from all formats via a social media post on Wednesday. Despite Azam’s tenure as white-ball captain since 2019 and Test skipper since 2020, the Pakistani team didn’t secure any ICC or Asia Cup titles under his leadership. As part of the recent changes, left-handed batter Shan Masood has been appointed as the new Test captain.
