Shaheen Shah Afridi, the dynamic pace bowler, who recently relinquished the white ball captaincy for Pakistan, has pledged his unwavering support to Babar Azam, who has been reinstated as the leader ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.
Afridi had a brief stint as the captain during a T20I series against New Zealand before the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) opted to restore Babar Azam as the captain for both T20Is and ODIs. This decision came after Azam had previously stepped down from captaincy following Pakistan's failure to advance to the knockout stages in the 50-over World Cup last year. Meanwhile, Shan Masood will continue to lead the Test side for Pakistan.
Expressing his sentiments, Afridi stated, "It was an immense privilege to lead the Pakistan National Cricket Team. The memories and opportunities will always hold a special place in my heart. As a dedicated team member, it is incumbent upon me to fully support our captain, Babar Azam."
Afridi emphasized his commitment to working closely with Babar to elevate Pakistan's standing in international cricket. "Having played under his captaincy, I have profound respect for him. I am committed to assisting him both on and off the field. We are united in our goal to propel Pakistan to the pinnacle of cricketing excellence," he added.
In response, Babar expressed his reliance on Afridi's tactical acumen. "It was a privilege to play under Shaheen's leadership. Despite his youth, he continues to evolve as a player and leader with each passing day. I highly value his insights as a captain and will continue to seek his counsel for crucial decisions," said Babar.
He further emphasized the importance of leveraging Afridi's strategic prowess for the team's success. “We must take advantage of his strategic understanding of the game. Our joint aim is to make this team the best in the world,” Babar concluded.
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