Pakistan’s T20I captaincy under Shaheen Shah Afridi has faced heavy criticism following the team’s disappointing performance in the five-match series against New Zealand, where they suffered a 4-1 defeat. The lone victory in the series did little to salvage Afridi’s reputation, especially as his Lahore Qalandars managed just one win in ten round-robin matches during the recent PSL 2024 season.
Amidst growing concerns about Afridi’s leadership, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating appointing a new captain to lead the team in T20Is. Afridi had taken over the captaincy from Babar Azam, who was reportedly sacked from his position across all formats. While Shan Masood was leading the team in red-ball cricket, Afridi was entrusted with the responsibility in the shortest format.
With the upcoming Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series on the horizon, the PCB sees it as a crucial opportunity to prepare for the T20 World Cup. The series against New Zealand will be followed by another against England, further emphasizing the need for strong leadership. The board aims to groom the next captain during this period to ensure readiness for the global event.
Mohsin Naqvi, the newly elected chairman of the PCB, stated that Afridi’s future as captain will be decided after the team’s training camp at Kakul, supervised by the army, commencing on March 25th. Naqvi remained tight-lipped about Afridi’s potential continuation as captain, emphasizing a focus on finding a long-term solution rather than making impulsive decisions based on recent outcomes.
“We want a long-term solution, whether it’s Shaheen or a new man,” Naqvi remarked. “And then we intend to stick by that man, instead of just changing a captain just because you lose a match or captain.”
The PCB seems keen on stability and foresight in its decision-making process regarding the leadership of the national team, aiming to ensure sustained success in the T20 format.
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