Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has expressed reservations about the PCB’s decision to appoint Shaheen Afridi earlier this year.
According to Shahid, the ideal choice to succeed Babar Azam would have been current captain Mohammad Rizwan, given his leadership qualities and consistency.
Speaking at a conference held at the Arts Council in Karachi, Shahid Afridi also criticized the decision to remove Shaheen as captain after just one series. He stressed that young players like Shaheen should be given more time to adapt to such responsibilities.
“I wasn’t in favor of Shaheen’s appointment as captain. After Babar, Rizwan was the best option. However, once you appoint someone, you must back them and allow time to grow into the role,” Afridi stated.
Afridi also addressed the broader issue of frequent leadership changes in Pakistan cricket, linking the instability to shifts in management.
“The problem lies in how everything changes with the appointment of a new chairman. This constant reshuffling disrupts the team’s progress,” he explained.
Afridi spoke fondly of Shaheen Afridi, praising his skills and contributions to Pakistan cricket. Shahid Afridi also highlighted Pakistan’s wealth of cricketing talent but lamented how it is often wasted due to a lack of proper nurturing.
Additionally, he advocated for maintaining cement wickets in Karachi, which he believes have historically produced some of Pakistan’s strongest batsmen.
“Cement wickets have been crucial in shaping the technique and resilience of our players. It’s a tradition that shouldn’t be abandoned,” Afridi concluded.
