Pakistan cricket fans were eagerly waiting for the Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20I series scheduled to start on March 24th. Before the series, it was rumored that Shaheen Afridi, the young left-arm pacer, would lead the side in place of Babar Azam, who was expected to be rested. However, when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad for the series, there were a few surprises.
While the rumors about Babar and Mohammad Rizwan being rested were true, the assumption about Shaheen Afridi leading the side turned out to be false. The PCB named Shadab Khan as the captain for the Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20I series. Moreover, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Fakhar Zaman have been rested for the series.
The announcement of Shadab Khan as captain was unexpected since he was also expected to be rested for the series. The news left fans and cricket experts divided. Some supported the PCB’s decision to appoint a young and dynamic captain like Shadab, while others were critical of the PCB’s decision to rest key players and experiment with the captaincy.
The decision to rest Shaheen Afridi, who is currently one of the best bowlers in the world, also raised eyebrows. Fans were disappointed that they would not get to see Afridi’s fiery spell against the Afghan batsmen. However, PCB chairman Najam Sethi denied that there were any plans to name Shaheen as captain, and he did not approach him for the job.
On the other hand, it was also rumored that the PCB offered the captaincy to Shaheen Afridi, but he denied seeing himself below Babar Azam. It remains to be seen whether the rumors are true or not, but it has certainly added fuel to the already burning controversy.
The decision to rest senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has also divided opinions. While some believe it is a good opportunity to test young talent, others think it’s not the right time to experiment, especially when the T20 World Cup is around the corner.
In conclusion, the announcement of the Pakistan vs Afghanistan T20I series squad has caused quite a stir in the cricketing world. The decision to appoint Shadab Khan as captain and rest key players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi has left fans and cricket experts divided. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will pay off for Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
