'Never Backed Shaheen For T20I Captaincy..,'  Shahid Afridi Opens Up

image-lp22r6pcShaheen Shah Afridi will lead Pakistan's T20I side [X.com]

Rather than a bed of roses, the captaincy of the Pakistan cricket team is a bed of thorns. Post Babar Azam's resignation following Pakistan's poor outing in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board named Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shah Masood as T20I and Test skipper, respectively.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under Zaka Ashraf met with several former cricketers in the last few days before narrowing down on Shaheen and Masood.

Shaheen comes from vast experience in leading the Lahore Qalandars franchise in the Pakistan Super League, winning the title this year, while Masood has led Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) in the County Championship Season 2023. 

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who did visit Ashraf last week before new appointments, backed Azam for the Test and Mohammed Rizwan for white-ball captaincy, respectively. 

Speaking to Samaa TV, Afridi, who is also Shaheen's father-in-law, lashed out at social media trolls, who suggested that the all-rounder played a hand in the latter's appointment. 

Here's what Afridi said

"I was saying that there was no need for change in such a short time. Prime Minister asked me, we were talking about captaincy, I gave my views, saying Babar need not be changed now. I thought he should continue in Test cricket. If you wanted a white-ball captain, I thought Mohammad Rizwan should have been the ideal candidate,

In terms of Shaheen becoming the T20 captain, I never wanted to get involved in any such decisions because I know people will say I am lobbying for Shaeen, considering his relationship with me. I don't want to get involved in these things. I am saying with certainty that till today, I have never backed Shaheen for captaincy,"

Meanwhile, Shaheen's first international assignment as Pakistan's T20I skipper will be a five-T20I series in New Zealand, following a three-Test tour of Australia under Masood.