Addressing the recent leadership changes within the Pakistan cricket team, former captain Shahid Afridi expressed regret over his own and others’ removal from the captaincy, emphasizing his wish for his son-in-law Shaheen Shah Afridi to concentrate solely on his cricketing career.
“I want Shaheen to focus solely on his cricket,” Afridi stated, mentioning that he had advised against Shaheen accepting the captaincy of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars.
“I always endeavored to keep Shaheen away from the captaincy role,” Afridi continued, observing that many former captains, including himself, did not experience favorable outcomes during their tenures.
Afridi’s remarks coincide with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recent decision to reinstate Babar Azam as the captain for T20Is and one-day internationals (ODIs) ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, commencing on April 18.
The PCB stated that the change in leadership was a strategic measure aimed at ensuring player welfare and optimal performance, reflecting the board’s commitment to safeguarding players’ longevity, particularly fast bowlers.
It’s worth noting that Shaheen was appointed as the team’s T20 captain following Babar’s resignation from the role in November last year, following the team’s below-par performance in the 2023 Asia Cup and the ODI World Cup.
Expanding on his perspective regarding the team’s captaincy, Afridi reiterated his support for Mohammad Rizwan and recalled advising the previous PCB chairman to appoint the wicket-keeper-batsman as the team’s skipper in white-ball cricket.
