PCB has decided to remove Shaheen Afridi from Captaincy before the T20 World Cup. They made Babar Azam in place of Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Now they revealed the reasons behind the change in the white ball Captaincy of the Pakistan cricket team.
They said that “Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to give players more rest to prevent them from getting too tired and to help them stay healthy. This decision is particularly important for players like Shaheen Afridi, who are involved in a lot of matches. By allowing them to take breaks, the PCB hopes to reduce the risk of injuries and ensure that players can have long and successful careers without burning out. It’s a strategy that focuses on taking care of the players’ well-being while also aiming for their best performance in the long run”.
PCB also released a statement attributed to Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The statement stated:
“I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity. As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam. I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help PakistanI must team in the world.”
According to Shaheen Afridi, he did not make the aforementioned (or any) comment.
Now Shaheen Shah Afridi has Shown disappointment regarding a false statement released by PCB attributed to him about his removal as T20 captain.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was also disheartened by his dismissal from T20 Captaincy after only one series.
Sources revealed that Shaheen Afridi quickly got in touch with the cricket board to express his frustration about how his situation was portrayed. He thought about addressing it on social media but was advised against it by his close associates, fearing it could make things worse. Despite their advice, Shaheen couldn’t shake off his feelings of unease and remained troubled by the incident late into the night.
Although Shaheen Shah Afridi shows his commitment to support Babar Azam as the new captain of the Pakistan cricket team.
Shaheen stated, “It was an absolute honour to captain the Pakistan National Cricket Team. I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity. As a team player, I must back our captain, Babar Azam. I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world.”
Mohsin Naqvi the Chairman of PCB expected to travel to Kakul and meet with Shaheen Shah as the Pakistan team is training with the military of Pakistan in Kakul for their proper fitness.
Babar Azam the newly appointed captain of white ball teams will lead Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
Babar Azam has also led the Pakistan team in recent two T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 in UAE and Australia.
Babar Azam’s performance in recent World Cups
In the T20 World Cups, Babar the Azam has captained in a total of 13 matches, with his team winning 9 and losing 4. Winning the toss in 5 of those matches, he chose to field first twice, both of which resulted in victories for his team. Under his leadership, the tused sed a total of 427 runs, with Babar himself maintaining a solid batting average of 35.58. Overall, Babar Azam’s performance as captain in T20 World Cups reflects a successful track record, with a high win percentage and a consistent contribution with the bat, showcasing his effectiveness in leading the team on the international stage.