Pakistan’s star fast bowler, Shaheen Afridi, may be deprived of the captaincy of the national team before the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup scheduled to commence in June. According to a report by a local newspaper, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Khan, has been advised to remove Shaheen from the captaincy of the T20 team due to Lahore Qalandars’ poor performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.
The report suggests that some individuals believe that the 23-year-old Shaheen lacks the necessary experience for such responsibility and needs further grooming. However, some members of the board argue that changing leadership so close to the World Cup may have adverse effects on the team’s performance.
The question arises: who could replace Shaheen as captain?
If Shaheen is removed from the position, there is a strong possibility that wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan could be appointed as the captain of the T20 team. However, former captain Babar Azam could also regain the captaincy.
Currently, Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi is at the top of the points table in the PSL 9, while Mohammad Rizwan’s Multan Sultans are in the second position.
It is worth mentioning that Lahore Qalandars managed to win only one match out of the 10 matches played in the Pakistan Super League.
Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was appointed as captain last November, and under his leadership, Lahore Qalandars suffered defeats in four out of five matches played.
It is noteworthy that Lahore Qalandars has won consecutive PSL titles in the 2022 and 2023 editions under Shaheen’s captaincy.
The decision to replace Shaheen Afridi as captain of the national T20 team remains uncertain, with arguments on both sides regarding his suitability for the role and the potential impact of such a change on the team’s performance in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. The final decision rests with the PCB chairman, who must carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a decision that could significantly affect Pakistan’s chances in the tournament.
