"Shahid Afridi Is Trying For Shaheen Afridi To Become Captain, But It's Not Easy," Says Mohammad Asif

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Asif made a significant claim regarding the captaincy of the national cricket team. Mohammad Asif stated that Shahid Afridi is attempting to promote Shaheen Shah Afridi to replace Babar Azam as captain of the Pakistan team.

Babar Azam’s captaincy came under fire following their Super Four stage exit from the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023. The Pakistan team failed to qualify for the final of the continental tournament after losing to India and Sri Lanka in back-to-back matches.

As per some reports, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi engaged in a heated exchange in the dressing room following their match against Sri Lanka. However, the left-arm pacer tried to end the rumours by sharing a photo with Babar on social media and captioning it “family”.

Don’t Have A Choice To Replace Babar Azam As Captain – Mohammad Asif

Mohammad Asif stated that there are limited options available to replace Babar Azam as the captain at the moment, as reported by Pakistan journalist Farid Khan. Asif said that Shahid Afridi is pushing for Shaheen Afridi to take on the captaincy role, but it’s not easy.

“We don’t have a choice right now to replace Babar Azam as captain. Shahid Afridi is trying for Shaheen Afridi to become captain, but it’s not easy,” Mohammad Asif said, as quoted by Farid Khan.

Babar Azam guided the team to the semifinals during the T20 World Cup 2021. The team reached the final in the T20 World Cup 2022. He led the team to the No. 1 ODI ranking for the first time. He was the first captain to register Pakistan’s first victory against India in the World Cup.

Shaheen Afridi Shouldn’t Play Against Small Teams – Mohammad Asif

Mohammad Asif highlighted the importance of rest for fast bowlers to extend their careers, stating that Shaheen Afridi shouldn’t play against teams like Nepal. Asif mentioned that he didn’t play against teams like the West Indies and Bangladesh.

“Shaheen Afridi shouldn’t play against small teams like Nepal. I never played against teams like West Indies and Bangladesh in my career. A fast bowler needs rest to prolong his career. These days bowlers play league cricket a lot because money is involved,” Mohammad Asif added.

Young pacer Naseem Shah has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 due to a shoulder injury. Former cricketers have expressed concerns about managing Naseem’s workload, as he has played continuous cricket for the past few months.

Also read: Shahid Afridi Denies Claims Of Pushing Shaheen Afridi To Replace Babar Azam As Pakistan Captain