According to ESPN Cricinfo, Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Afridi is reportedly displeased with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) handling of the transfer of white-ball captaincy to Babar Azam.
Besides feeling unjustly treated, Afridi also appears to be angered by the inclusion of his name in the PCB’s statement released after Babar’s reinstatement as captain. Afridi was reportedly close to issuing his own statement to clarify that he was not involved with the quotes in the press release.
However, he refrained from doing so as the PCB conducted urgent discussions with him. A subsequent round of talks, seemingly aimed at resolving the matter definitively and involving PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, is set for Sunday, April 1st.
“I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity. As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam. I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him.”
“I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world,” the words, which Afridi seems to deny are his, read on the press release.
Surprisingly, the PCB chairman extended the offer to Babar Azam for the white-ball captaincy positions, marking a significant shift before Pakistan’s crucial bilateral commitments and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Although initial reports hinted at some hesitations from Babar’s side, the star batsman has embraced the role and anticipates a successful second term with a restructured support staff backing him.
After Pakistan’s disappointment in failing to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Babar Azam stepped down from the captaincy in all formats. Shan Masood assumed the role of leading the team in red-ball cricket, while Shaheen Afridi was also introduced into the leadership setup.
Shaheen Afridi managed to secure victory in just one match during his tenure as captain of Pakistan
The young captain’s initial challenge was leading Pakistan in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. He was even rested from the third Test against Australia to prepare for this role. Unfortunately, the Men in Green suffered a disappointing 1-4 defeat against the Blackcaps, narrowly avoiding a whitewash.
Adding to Shaheen Afridi’s woes, his captaincy stint with the Lahore Qalandars in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) did not go well. Despite aiming for a historic three-peat, the team only managed to win one match throughout the season, finishing at the bottom of the table.
Even though Afridi has faced some recent challenges, it’s not fair to judge him only based on one series. He’s upset with how the PCB handled the captaincy change and the lack of communication during the decision-making.
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