Shaheen Afridi might lose his World Cup-bound T20 leadership

Shaheen Afridi declines to take over the vice role of Babar Azam

With the T20 World Cup approaching and scheduled to begin in June of this year, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi might lose his position as captain of the Men in Green.

According to an article in a local newspaper, Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has been advised to consider replacing the captain of the team after the Shaheen-led Lahore Qalandars’ appalling performance in the current ninth Pakistan Super League season (PSL 9), which saw the team finish at the bottom of the points standings.

According to the publication’s source, which emphasizes that the PCB head has the last say, some people think Shaheen, who is 23 years old, is too young for this position and requires more experience. However, other board members think it would not be a good idea to switch team leaders so soon to the World Cup since it might have a bad effect on the squad’s performance.”

It’s very possible that Mohammad Rizwan, the batsman who keeps wicket, will be named to replace Shaheen. Babar Azam, the former captain, is also a candidate for the important position, though.

In PSL 9, Babar’s Peshawar Zalmi are presently leading the points standings. Multan Sultans of Rizwan are ranked second at the moment.

In November of last year, Shaheen, a lanky bowler, took Azam’s position as the T20I skipper. Nevertheless, in Shaheen’s five games as captain, the Men in Green have lost four of them.

It is important to remember that Qalandars won the PSL in 2022 and 2023 under Shaheen’s captaincy.

Though it differs from the First Round/Super 12 structure used in the 2021 and 2022 editions, the 2024 T20 World Cup, which kicks off on June 1, will feature a 20-team format split into two phases prior to the elimination phase.

The highly awaited match between India and Pakistan will take place in Eisenhower Park in New York on June 9.

Following their victory against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Australia, England is the reigning champion.