‘Biggest problem is...’: Shahid Afridi hits back at rumours of Shaheen being sacked as Pakistan T20I captain

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has lashed out at rumours which claim that Shaheen Afridi might be removed as the T20I captain. Shaheen was appointed the captain in the shortest format post Pakistan's horror run in the 2023 ODI World Cup, after which Babar Azam was sacked from the top post across formats. Since then, the pacer has led in only five T20Is, versus New Zealand, where he managed only one win. Recently, there have been reports of Shaheen's sacking, which irked his father-in-law Shahid.

'Biggest problem with our cricket is that our system changes...'

Talking to the media in Karachi, as quoted by PTI, Afridi said, "I think that if you have appointed someone as captain (Shaheen) and given him the responsibility then give him time as well." He further opined, "The biggest problem with our cricket is that our system changes whenever the faces change in the board. Whoever comes thinks whatever he is doing is the best for Pakistan cricket."

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Afridi added, "If you change the captain then either the decision to appoint him was wrong or the decision to change him now is wrong." He even shared his take on the appointment of a foreigner as Pakistan coach but said the person should be a high-profile individual like Andy Flower (with a great track record). In this regard, he said, "I believe that even if you bring in a foreign coach, the staff under him should be Pakistani so that our people can also move forward and improve their skills."

There are speculations that the new governing committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would reinstate Babar Azam and sack Shaheen as the captain of the T20I side ahead of the T20 WC, which gets underway on June 1.

Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India.