Shaheen Shah Afridi is reportedly thinking about leaving his position as captain of the Pakistan T20I team because they haven’t been doing very well. The skilled fast bowler took over as T20I leader from Babar Azam, who resigned following Pakistan’s poor performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which was held in India from October to November.
Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi took over the leadership reins for Pakistan’s Test and T20I teams, respectively, with Afridi leading the squad during a tough series in New Zealand, which Pakistan ultimately lost 1-4. However, Afridi’s leadership was also under scrutiny during the recent Pakistan Super League (PSL) season as his team, Lahore Qalandars, ended up at the bottom of the points table.
Reports suggest that Afridi’s time as captain is nearing its end. The newly formed selection committee has proposed Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan as potential candidates for the white-ball captaincy. The final decision rests with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Mohsin Naqvi.
After Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup 2023, there were rumblings of change within the cricketing hierarchy. Babar, who had led the team, found himself at the center of this storm as the decision to relieve him of captaincy didn’t sit well with him. Reports from ESPNcricinfo revealed that he was adamant about being reinstated as captain across all formats if he were to consider a return.
Meanwhile, Afridi’s future seemed uncertain after a lackluster showing in the New Zealand T20Is and a forgettable stint with Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. Naqvi’s reluctance to throw his support behind Afridi during a press conference hinted at the impending decision. It was speculated that Afridi’s days as captain were numbered, especially considering his limited experience at the helm.
Babar’s insistence on being appointed Test captain added to the pressure on Masood’s leadership in the longer format. While Masood’s tenure hadn’t been extensively tested, Babar’s desire for control over all formats signaled a shift in the leadership dynamics.
According to a report by Geo News, PCB had decided to reinstate Babar as captain for the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand, effectively replacing Afridi. Additionally, the PCB’s move to have separate coaches for white-ball and red-ball teams indicated a broader restructuring. Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie emerged as frontrunners for the coaching roles, with Kirsten likely to take charge of the white-ball teams and Gillespie poised to lead the Test side.
