Shahid Afridi: “I think that if you have appointed someone as captain (Shaheen) and given him the responsibility then give him time as well. If you change the captain then either the decision to appoint him was wrong or the decision to change him now is wrong”

Image courtesy of: Unsplash

Legendary big-hitter Shahid Afridi has questioned whether the wrong decision was made to appoint Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20I captain after the pace spearhead was replaced after just one series in charge.

Shaheen was handed the leadership role after Babar Azam quit as captain following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.

However, the 24-year-old only led the men in green in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January 2024, which they lost 4-1.

Following the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), it was announced that Azam would return as captain, but only in the limited overs formats.

Considering Shaheen’s tenure as skipper lasted just five games, Shahid asked whether the youngster was not the right man for the job or if the decision to remove him as captain was an incorrect one.

“I think that if you have appointed someone as captain (Shaheen) and given him the responsibility then give him time as well,” Afridi was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

“If you change the captain then either the decision to appoint him was wrong or the decision to change him now is wrong.”

Prior to losing the T20I captaincy, Shaheen led the Lahore Qalandars in PSL 9 and took 14 wickets in nine matches at an average of 22.14 and an economy rate of 8.61.

He then featured in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and claimed eight wickets in four games at an average of 10 and an economy rate of 7.38.

Next up for Pakistan will be a three-match T20I series against Ireland from May 10 to 14.

After that, they will play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.

Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan

MORE PAKISTAN CRICKET NEWS: Maybe he can bat at No. 5 or 6, Azhar Ali feels Pakistan batsman might have to be demoted

What do you think about Shaheen Shah Afridi being removed as Pakistan's T20I captain?

Good decision!

Bad decision!

What do you think about Shaheen Shah Afridi being removed as Pakistan's T20I captain?

Good decision! 133 ( 62.74 % )

Bad decision! 79 ( 37.26 % )