Wasim Akram: “Right now, Shaheen Afridi is your best T20 player. He also has captaincy experience from the PSL. There’s no better option than Shaheen for the T20 format at the moment”
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Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram believes Shaheen Shah Afridi is the best option as T20I captain and should replace Salman Ali Agha.
Afridi was recently named ODI captain and has fared well so far, notching up series wins over South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Salman’s future as T20I skipper has been discussed for quite some time, but Wasim thinks it’s time to move on from the 31-year-old.
In fact, the Sultan of Swing feels Salman doesn’t even deserve a place in the T20I squad if his recent performances are taken into consideration.
During the 2025 Asia Cup, he made 72 runs in seven matches at an average of 12 and a strike-rate of 80.89.
As for the three-match T20I series against South Africa, Salman could only muster 35 runs at an average of 17.50 and a strike-rate of 106.06.
“My advice is simple, make someone captain in T20s whose own place in the team is secure. How can a player who doesn’t deserve a place in the playing XI be the captain? Right now, Shaheen Afridi is your best T20 player. He also has captaincy experience from the PSL. There’s no better option than Shaheen for the T20 format at the moment. He should be appointed captain for a longer period. A team’s success or failure largely depends on its captain,” Wasim was quoted as saying on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, which will be held from November 18 to 29.
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem