Zaka Ashraf: “Shaheen should have been given some more time, at least one year, so that his performance [as skipper] could be analysed before taking any decision in this connection”
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Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf feels pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi should have been given at least one year to prove himself as T20I captain.
His comments come after the 24-year-old was removed from the leadership role after just one series in charge, which consisted of five T20Is against New Zealand in January 2024.
Afridi was replaced by Babar Azam as limited overs skipper, even though the 29-year-old had resigned as captain in all three formats in November 2023.
Ashraf believes Afridi was the victim of unfair treatment and felt it would have been impossible to assess his leadership skills after just one series.
“Shaheen should have been given some more time, at least one year, so that his performance [as skipper] could be analysed before taking any decision in this connection,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn.
Afridi recently captained the Lahore Qalandars in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and took 14 wickets in nine matches at an average of 22.14 and an economy rate of 8.61.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which will take place in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series:Â Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves:Â Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha