• Sportzyverse
• Cricket news, T20 World Cup 2024
• 03/31/2024
• 0 Comments

In a surprising turn of events ahead of the T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam reclaimed the captaincy of the white-ball side, replacing fast bowler Shaheen Afridi. The decision, prompted by Afridi’s disappointing leadership during Pakistan’s 1-4 series loss against New Zealand, was met with stern opposition from former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

Babar Azam’s Reinstatement and Afridi’s Discontent

Shahid Afridi questioned the selection committee’s choice by expressing his dissatisfaction with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision. He suggested that Mohammad Rizwan would have been a better alternative for the captaincy role.

“I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selection committee. I still believe that if change was necessary, then Rizwan was the best choice!” tweeted Afridi on X, formerly Twitter.

Amid the controversy, Babar Azam reportedly sought assurances about his captaincy tenure and expressed a desire to lead the Test side as well. However, PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi clarified that while Babar would continue as the white-ball captain, a decision on the Test captaincy would be deferred until after the T20 World Cup.

Also Read Babar Azam lays down these demands ahead of Pakistan Captaincy Acceptance

Factors Influencing Shaheen Afridi’s Ouster

The decision to replace Shaheen Afridi was influenced by his inability to effectively lead the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), culminating in their last-place finish. Additionally, Shaheen’s own inconsistent performance further contributed to the selectors’ decision.

According to a source quoted by PTI, the PCB Chairman emphasised that the selectors must determine the best candidate for the captaincy and would be held accountable for the team’s future performances.

While Shaheen Afridi accepted the decision, concerns remain regarding the fairness of solely judging him for the team’s performance.

The controversy surrounding Babar Azam’s reinstatement as captain and Shaheen Afridi’s removal highlights the intricacies of leadership decisions in Pakistani cricket. With Babar set to lead the white-ball side once again, the cricketing fraternity awaits the outcome of Pakistan’s performance under his captaincy in the upcoming T20 World Cup.