Shahid Afridi: “I was not in favour of Shaheen being made captain. However, he should have been given more time to mature as a leader before taking on the responsibility”
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Iconic Pakistan big-hitter Shahid Afridi said he didn’t want left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to be captain as he was not ready for it.
Shaheen previously served as Pakistan’s T20I captain, but only hold the leadership position for one series, which consisted of five T20Is against New Zealand in January 2024.
Shortly after that, he was replaced by Babar Azam, who was named limited overs captain. However, Azam was only in the position for around six months before stepping down and being succeeded by current white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan.
Shaheen’s tenure as captain was a messy affair as it began and ended so quickly. Despite this, Shahid reiterated that his 24-year-old son-in-law needed more time to mature before being put in charge of the Pakistan team.
“I was not in favour of Shaheen being made captain. However, he should have been given more time to mature as a leader before taking on the responsibility,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Afridi was in action in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia and took eight wickets in three ODIs at an average of 12.62.
He followed that up with one wicket in three T20Is at an average of 107.
After their tour of Australia, Pakistan travelled to Zimbabwe, but Afridi was rested for both the ODI and T20I series.
He returned for the ongoing tour of South Africa and claimed three wickets in two T20Is at an average of 19.66.
As for the three ODIs, he finished with seven wickets at an average of 23.28.
Pakistan and South Africa then played a two-Test series, but Afridi was not included in the squad.
The men in green are now involved in a two-Test series against the West Indies, which they lead 1-0 after winning the 1st Test in Multan by 127 runs.
The 2nd Test will begin on January 25 in Multan.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Kashif Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha
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