Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has criticized struggling captain Babar Azam for the team’s disappointing showing in the T20 World Cup. Afridi believes Babar has had ample chances to demonstrate his leadership abilities, and he feels it may be time for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to reassess his captaincy.
Pakistan, once a dominant force, faced early elimination from the tournament after losses to debutants USA and arch-rivals India, finishing at the group stage in the event held across the USA and West Indies.
“Babar has had a full opportunity to lead the national team, and he’s been given sufficient time to prove his worth as a captain. Now it’s up to the PCB to decide on their next steps,” Afridi stated to the media while participating in the World Legends Championship in Birmingham.
Reflecting on his own experience, Afridi noted that both Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq also faced scrutiny during poor World Cup performances, with the captain often bearing the brunt of criticism.
Babar has captained Pakistan in four World Cups and two Asia Cups.
Afridi added that if the PCB opts for a new captain, it is crucial that he, along with the newly appointed foreign coaches—Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie—are given enough time to establish their methods and make an impact.
“Whatever decisions the PCB makes should be thoughtful, and they need to allow the captain, coach, and the system time to develop,” he emphasized.
Additionally, Afridi expressed his disagreement with the PCB's decision to dismiss national selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq following the team's poor T20 World Cup performance.
“This move seems illogical to me… just firing two selectors,” Afridi commented.
Concerns have also been raised about Afridi’s son-in-law, fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, after reports suggested he was not behaving appropriately during the World Cup. A television channel claimed that coach Kirsten mentioned in his report that Shaheen was uncooperative with the management, contributing to a breakdown in team discipline.
Furthermore, it was alleged that the senior team manager, Wahab Riaz, along with manager Mansoor Rana, overlooked Shaheen’s conduct and failed to address the issues with him. There were also accusations that Wahab and Razzaq attempted to influence other selectors to choose players who were not performing well at the time.
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