Babar Azam to lead Pakistan in T20 World Cup? Shaheen Afridi kept in the dark about captaincy change

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering removing Shaheen Afridi as T20I captain before the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Shaheen Afridi is unaware of this potential leadership change, indicating uncertainty about his future role in the national team.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is reportedly considering reinstating Babar Azam as Pakistan’s skipper ahead of the ICC tournament. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is under consideration as an alternative option to lead the Pakistan cricket team.

Babar Azam To Replace Shaheen Afridi As Pakistan T20I Captain

According to Cricket Pakistan, Babar Azam is reluctant to accept the captaincy role again, despite efforts from the board. Mohammad Rizwan, who is the vice-captain of the T20I side, is being considered as an alternative option for captaincy if Babar declines the role.

Babar Azam stepped down from the captaincy across all formats after the Men in Green’s early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Subsequently, Shaheen Afridi took over as the T20I captain, while Shan Masood assumed leadership in Test matches.

The 23-year-old has captained Pakistan’s T20I team in just one series, resulting in a 1-4 loss against New Zealand. Similarly, Lahore Qalandars, under his leadership, ended up at the bottom of the table in the latest PSL season, winning only one match out of ten.

PCB Yet to Inform Shaheen Afridi Regarding Leadership Change

The report further highlights the communication gap between Shaheen Afridi and the cricket board, leading to unease. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and other officials have not reached out to the left-arm pace bowler to discuss the ongoing deliberations.

Former cricketers have criticized the rumored captaincy change, deeming it unfair to remove Shaheen after just one series in charge. The PCB’s silence on the issue has surprised and worried cricket circles, adding to the concerns surrounding the situation.

Shaheen Afridi actively strategized for the impending World Cup, influencing Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir to return from retirement for national duties. His efforts aimed to enhance the team’s capabilities by enlisting the expertise of these seasoned players.

Things Can’t Change Immediately – Shadab Khan

Shadab Khan emphasized the importance of patience in appointing a new captain. He highlighted that stability in leadership is crucial for resolving issues before the upcoming World Cup.

“Whenever you bring someone in, things can’t change immediately. It takes time. We want many things to change immediately, but that’s not how it works; it’s a process. In this process, there are mostly failures in the beginning, and it’s important to see how we accept those failures,” said Shadab.

“A captain has his own thought process, and right now, it’s unclear because of discussions about changing the captain after just one series. With the World Cup, I think we need to identify players for the long run so that by the time we reach the World Cup, our issues are resolved,” he added.

Prior to Afridi’s tenure, Babar Azam steered the T20I team to significant triumphs, securing victories in 42 out of 71 matches as captain. Additionally, under his leadership, the team reached the semi-final and final of the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, respectively.

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