Shahid Afridi tears apart PCB amid rumours of Babar Azam replacing Shaheen Afridi as the Pakistan captain

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has defended his son-in-law, Shaheen Shah Afridi, amid growing speculation about his removal as the national T20 captain. Shahid Afridi highlighted the challenges posed by frequent changes in leadership within the cricket board.

During a recent press conference in Lahore, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi hinted at potential changes in Pakistan’s captaincy. He emphasized that Shaheen Afridi’s tenure as T20I captain will be determined after the conclusion of the national camp in Kakul on April 8.

Shaheen Afridi assumed the T20I captaincy in November last year, succeeding star batter Babar Azam. However, the Pakistan national cricket team faced a setback with a 1-4 defeat in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand under Afridi’s leadership.

The left-arm pacer faced heavy criticism for the Lahore Qalandars’ performance in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL). They endured a dismal campaign, winning only one out of ten matches. The Lahore-based franchise finished at the bottom of the table.

Then Give Shaheen Afridi Time As Well – Shahid Afridi

Speaking to local media, Shahid Afridi emphasized the importance of patience and consistency in leadership decisions within the team. He stressed the significance of providing time and support to Shaheen Afridi to fulfill his responsibilities effectively.

“I think that if you have appointed someone as captain (Shaheen) and given him the responsibility, then give him time as well,” Afridi told the media on Tuesday.

“The biggest problem with our cricket is that our system changes whenever the faces change in the board. Whoever comes thinks whatever he is doing is the best for Pakistan cricket.”

“If you change the captain then either the decision to appoint him was wrong or the decision to change him now is wrong,” he added.

Shaheen was appointed as the national T20 captain after the ODI World Cup 2023 in India, with Babar Azam being replaced as the white-ball captain due to Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament. Babar also stepped down from his role in the red-ball format.

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were initially considered for the captaincy role. However, recent developments have shifted the focus back to Babar as the primary candidate for captaincy. PCB officials are nearing a decision to reappoint him as the captain.

The Staff Under Him Should Be Pakistani – Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi expressed support for hiring a high-profile foreign coach like Andy Flower, emphasizing the need for someone with a strong track record.

“I believe that even if you bring in a foreign coach, the staff under him should be Pakistani so that our people can also move forward and improve their skills,” Shahid said.

Regarding the inclusion of Imad Wasim and Muhammad Amir in the national training camp, Afridi suggested that assessing their fitness beforehand would have been beneficial.

“But I can tell you that if they can come through this two-week training camp in Kakul they will be supermen,” he concluded.

The Men in Green’s next assignment is a five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The first T20I is set to be played in Rawalpindi on April 18. The next two matches will take place at the same venue before the series shifts to Lahore for the last two matches.

Also read: PSL 2024 important for T20 World Cup selection – Shahid Afridi sends message to Pakistan players