ENG vs PAK: Shaheen Afridi angry at Babar Azam? Truth behind pacer reportedly rejecting vice-captaincy role revealed

On Saturday (25th May), a new controversy hit Pakistan cricket as there were several reports that suggested a thing related to the selection of the squad for T20 World Cup 2024. It was learned that Shaheen Afridi was asked to take up the vice-captaincy of the team but he rejected as he said he wasn’t interested.

However, in a massive turn of events, as per the reports in Cricbuzz, it is learned that the Pakistan selection committee wasn’t keen to name the vice-captain of the team for the T20 World Cup 2024. The selectors discussed it but felt there was no need to name the Babar Azam’s deputy.

A source close to Pakistan cricket revealed that the vice-captaincy of the team for the T20 World Cup was discussed. But they didn’t offer any player the role. Speaking to Cricbuzz, he stated:

"The issue of vice-captaincy ca''me up for discussion during Friday's selection committee meeting but it was agreed there was no need to recommend a vice-captain. Therefore, no vice-captaincy offer was made to any player. This is documented as it is part of the meeting minutes.”

The reports also claimed that only Mohammad Yousuf on the selection committee was in favor of appointing a vice-captain rest of the members weren’t on the same page. Therefore the committee with the majority and hence the idea was dropped.

Although the reports claimed that there weren’t any conversations with Shaheen Afridi, it was also learned that if there were any private conversations between Afridi and a selection committee member, it must have been outside the purview of the selection committee.

Pakistan's side for the T20 World Cup 2024 was selected after a two-hour selection committee meeting in Birmingham. The meeting was attended by Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Bilal Afzal, Gary Kirsten, Yousuf and Wahab Riaz. Razzaq, Asad, and Bilal joined the meeting through video conferencing.

Head coach Gary Kirsten to nominate a vice-captain as a temporary arrangement

The reports also claimed that Shaheen Afridi is struggling with the ignominy of being snubbed as the captain of the team. The left-arm pacer was appointed as the leader of the team after the ICC World Cup 2023. However, he didn’t get the longer rope as he was given just one series to prove himself as a leader.

Shaheen Afridi in his first series as the captain suffered a 4-1 drubbing against New Zealand. However, the series turned out to be his last as he after that was removed as the captain of the team, and Babar Azam was reappointed as the captain of the team.

It is learned that selectors now have given the open hand to head coach Gary Kirsten to nominate a vice-captain as a temporary arrangement if in the unforeseen circumstance of Babar being unable to take the field. So far, Mohammad Rizwan looks a hot candidate to take up the role.