Things… Changed So Rapidly: Shadab Speaks About Shaheen Afridi’s Sacking As Captain
Shadab Khan has made a comeback into the Pakistan team for the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan’s captaincy has always been a game of musical chairs, with skippers being changed after each series or change in leadership tenure. Ahead of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi with Babar Azam as 20-overs captain, a post that the latter relinquished after ICC World Cup 2024.
Now on the eve of Pakistan’s tournament opener against the United States of America, ace all-rounder Shadab Khan has come out in support of Afridi, who the former believes should have been given a long rope as captain. Afridi led Pakistan in five T20Is in New Zealand, which his side lost 1-4, raising doubts over the pacer’s leadership qualities. The 24-year-old came into the picture as leadership material after helping Lahore Qalandars (LQ) win successive Pakistan Super League (PSL) titles.
As quoted by Wisden, Khan stated that for Afridi’s sake, the system should have given ample time, while also welcoming Azam back as skipper. “Maybe he could have been given a longer run in the role” – Shadab Khan. “From Shaheen’s point of view, things shouldn’t have changed so rapidly; instead, a system or adequate process should have been in place to ensure consistency and provide consistent results. Unfortunately, due to injury I didn’t play under Shaheen, so when I returned, I was still playing under Babar, and things were relatively the same for me. Looking at it from Shaheen’s perspective, maybe he could have been given a longer run in the role. However, having Babar back also provides us with an experienced captain, so not much has changed to make it harder for me.”
Recently, Afridi rejected PCB’s offer to become Pakistan’s vice-captain for the tournament, leading to earlier reports of the pacer pondering upon leaving the role as T20I skipper before eventually being sacked. Heading into the T20 World Cup, Azam became the most successful captain in the T20Is, surpassing Eoin Morgan and Brian Masaba’s tally of 44 wins each.
Pakistan meets USA in Grand Prairie Stadium at Dallas this evening in a crucial Group A contest.
