Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi has expressed his preference for wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan over left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as the captain for the T20 format. Afridi made these comments during an event in Australia, praising Rizwan for his focused and hardworking approach to the game.
Afridi highlighted Rizwan’s ability to concentrate on his own game without being distracted by his surroundings. He humorously stated that he would like to see Rizwan as the T20 captain but acknowledged that Shaheen had unintentionally taken on the role.
The legendary all-rounder’s candid remarks were met with laughter from the audience and smiles from the players on stage, including Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Shaheen. The latter had assumed the T20 captaincy role in November, replacing batting sensation Babar Azam.
Shaheen, at just 23 years old, has an impressive record with 64 wickets in 52 T20Is and led Lahore Qalandars to victory in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2022 and 2023.
This isn’t the first time Afridi has questioned Shaheen’s captaincy. He previously disclosed that he advised Shaheen against accepting the captaincy for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, suggesting that he focus more on his bowling for the next year or two.
Afridi’s insights into the leadership roles within the Pakistani cricket team provide a glimpse into the dynamics and decision-making processes.
As a respected figure in Pakistani cricket, Afridi’s opinions on captaincy carry weight, and his remarks add an interesting dimension to the ongoing discussions about team leadership and player development. It remains to be seen how these comments may influence future captaincy decisions in the Pakistani cricket setup.
