Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has come out in support of Shaheen Afridi amidst speculation surrounding the young fast bowler’s captaincy of the T20I side. Rumours are swirling in the cricketing world that Shaheen Afridi might lose his captaincy. Babar Azam could replace him before the World Cup starts on June 1.
During Zaka Ashraf’s tenure as the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaheen Afridi became the captain of the T20 side after Babar Azam stepped down from the role following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup in India last year. Shan Masood also took over as Test captain at that time.
Speculation intensified following the appointment of Mohsin Naqvi as the new chairman of the PCB in February, especially after the restructuring of the selection committee and the removal of the chairman’s role. Additionally, the reversal of retirement decisions by Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir further fueled the rumors of potential changes in the team set up ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Known for his outspoken nature, Shahid Afridi emphasized the importance of stability in leadership within the team. He urged the cricketing authorities to allow Shaheen Afridi more time to showcase his leadership skills.
“I believe that when you’ve chosen someone as captain (Shaheen) and entrusted them with responsibility, it’s important to also allow them sufficient time to fulfill their duties,” Afridi told the media as quoted by PTI.
“Our main issue is that whenever there’s a new face on the board, the system changes. Each newcomer believes their approach is best for Pakistan cricket. If you decide to switch captains, it suggests that either the initial decision to appoint them was incorrect, or the decision to change captains now is wrong,” he added.
Afridi also expressed his support for the appointment of a foreign coach, suggesting that a high-profile figure like Andy Flower could bring valuable experience to the team. However, he stressed the importance of having Pakistani staff working under the foreign coach.
“I think that even if you hire a coach from abroad, the supporting staff working with them should be Pakistani. This way, our people can progress and enhance their skills,” he concluded.