Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi did not hold back in his criticism of the national white-ball captain, Babar Azam, demanding a change in leadership. Afridi, currently in London representing Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends, voiced his concerns after Pakistan’s match against South Africa Champions.
“We have also led Pakistan too, like myself, Younis Khan, and Misbah-ul-Haq, but hardly any captain got as many chances as Babar Azam,” Afridi remarked. “In the past, after every World Cup, the captain used to be the first one to be sacked.”
Time for a Change
Afridi pointed out that despite multiple opportunities in major tournaments like the ODI World Cup, Asia Cup, and T20 World Cup, Babar has yet to deliver a significant victory. “Babar has got ample opportunities without winning anything. I think it is time to take a decision,” he asserted.
It’s noteworthy that Babar was reinstated as captain before the T20 World Cup 2024 after the PCB decided to sack Shahid Afridi’s son-in-law, Shaheen Afridi, as T20 captain.
There is a belief among fans that Afridi is against Babar because of Shaheen’s removal, however, the former captain has advocated for Mohammad Rizwan to be appointed captain on many occasions.
Reactions to Selector Sacking
Afridi also addressed the recent removal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from their roles as selectors for the national men’s cricket team. Both Wahab and Razzaq are part of the Pakistan Champions’ squad in the ongoing tournament.
Afridi expressed his confusion over what he described as a perplexing “surgery” within the selection committee. “I have come to know about the expulsion of Wahab and Razzaq. To be honest, this kind of surgery is beyond my comprehension,” he stated.
“The selection committee was comprised of seven members, why the surgery has been done on two?”
Further Shake-ups
In addition to being removed as selectors, Wahab Riaz has also been stripped of his role as senior team manager, along with team manager Mansoor Rana. These decisions come in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where the team failed to advance beyond the group stage.
As Pakistan cricket faces these tumultuous changes, the call for new leadership and a fresh direction grows louder. Fans and former players alike are eager to see how the team will navigate these challenges and rebuild for future success.
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