Shaheen Shah Afridi has refused to accept a vice-captaincy offer for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 to be played in the United States of America and West Indies starting from 2nd June onwards. Pakistan has been struggling with the captaincy role for the past six months.
Babar Azam stepped down from captain role after a disappointing outing in the 2023 World Cup where they lost to Afghanistan, Australia, India, England, and South Africa and could not qualify for the semi-finals.
Shan Masood was appointed as the captain of the Pakistan test team. They suffered a 0-3 whitewash to Australia in Australia. Shaheen Shah Afridi was appointed as the captain for the T20I series against New Zealand. Pakistan struggled with a 1-4 loss to New Zealand.
After this, Shaheen Shah Afridi was removed from the captaincy. Babar Azam was again made the captain of the T20I and ODI format. They drew a five-match T20I series against an inexperienced New Zealand side at 2-2 at home. After this, Pakistan suffered a loss in the first T20I match against Ireland before winning the next two matches to win the series at 2-1.
Pakistan became the final team to announce the squad for the T20 World Cup. Shaheen Shah Afridi was offered a vice-captaincy role before the announcement. The squad did not have a vice-captain officially when the team was named on 24th May 2024.
Pakistan will try to do well in the T20I World Cup 2024
Pakistan would be looking to make amends with great performances in the Group stage. They are clubbed with arch-rivals India, USA, Canada, and Ireland. They would face a tough challenge against India on 9th June in New York.
With the way, the USA, and Ireland performed in recent times, Pakistan needs to be careful and beat them easily to qualify for the Super 8 stage.
Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.
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