Shahid Afridi criticizes removal of Shaheen Afridi as captain
He also commented on the wealth of talent in Pakistan cricket but lamented that much of it had been underutilized.
ISLAMABAD: Shahid Afridi has criticized the decision to remove Shaheen Shah Afridi as Pakistan’s captain after just one series, calling it unfair. Speaking in Karachi on Saturday, the former all-rounder expressed his opinion that the fast bowler did not deserve to be dropped so soon from the leadership role. While Afridi was not in favor of Shaheen Afridi being appointed captain initially, he emphasized that the decision to remove him after a single series was unjust.
Afridi acknowledged Mohammad Rizwan as the best choice for Pakistan’s captaincy after Babar Azam, underlining the importance of the wicketkeeper-batsman’s leadership. He also commented on the wealth of talent in Pakistan cricket but lamented that much of it had been underutilized.
In his support for emerging players, Afridi singled out opening batter Saim Ayub, asserting that Ayub had the potential to become a top performer across all three formats for Pakistan. He also spoke highly of all-rounder Aamer Jamal, drawing a comparison to the legendary Abdul Razzaq, suggesting Jamal could have a similar impact on the team.
Read more: Babar Azam tops ICC ODI batting rankings, Shaheen Afridi slips to second in bowling list
On the issue of the Champions Trophy stalemate, Afridi backed Pakistan’s stance, praising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for making the right decisions regarding the tournament. He called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene and help resolve the impasse surrounding the event, emphasizing the importance of making tough decisions when it comes to representing the country.
