Kamran Akmal: “Shaheen Afridi is definitely unlucky here. He was just given one series as captain. This is a sad reality and this is not something new in Pakistan cricket. Captains have been changed overnight in the past too”
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Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal described left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi losing the T20I captaincy as the “sad reality” of Pakistan cricket.
Afridi was only in charge for one series, which consisted of five T20Is against New Zealand in January 2024.
After Pakistan lost that series 4-1, speculation began about a potential change in leadership.
Ultimately, the rumours proved to be true as Azam was restored as limited overs captain even though he stepped down from the leadership role in all three formats in November 2023.
While Akmal feels bad for Afridi, he noted that what the 24-year-old went through “is not something new in Pakistan cricket.”
“Shaheen Afridi is definitely unlucky here. He was just given one series as captain. This is a sad reality and this is not something new in Pakistan cricket. Captains have been changed overnight in the past too,” he told PakPassion.
Afridi recently led the Lahore Qalandars in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and picked up 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 in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: 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: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha