Pakistan cricket is facing turbulent times with inconsistent performances and frequent leadership changes. Amidst this chaos, a recent controversy has emerged, involving Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi over the captaincy of the Pakistan T20 team. Speculations are swirling about whether Babar betrayed Shaheen, as a close friend of Babar made significant revelations about the situation.
Shaheen Afridi’s Brief Captaincy and Sudden Replacement by Babar Azam
Following Pakistan’s exit from the ODI World Cup 2023, Babar Azam stepped down from captaincy across all formats. Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s star fast bowler, was then appointed as the captain of the T20 side. However, after just one series—a 4-1 defeat to New Zealand—Shaheen was replaced, and Babar was reinstated as captain of both the ODI and T20 formats. This sudden decision left fans and experts questioning whether there was more to the story than just cricketing performance.
Babar Azam Allegedly Misled Shaheen About Captaincy
The controversy deepened when Pakistani journalist Qadir Khwaja, who is considered close to Babar Azam, revealed surprising details in a live show. According to Khwaja, Shaheen had asked Babar directly whether he had any intention of taking over the captaincy again. Babar reportedly reassured Shaheen that he had no interest in reclaiming the leadership role, which led Shaheen to believe that he had Babar’s support.
However, Khwaja claims that Babar was fully aware that he would be made captain again, but kept this information from Shaheen. This miscommunication led to shock and disappointment for Shaheen when the selectors announced Babar’s return as captain after just one series under Shaheen’s leadership. According to Khwaja, the conversation took place during a team camp in Kabul, and another member of the team management allegedly kept Shaheen in the dark about the captaincy change.
Disappointing Results Led to Shaheen’s Removal
Shaheen Afridi’s short stint as Pakistan’s T20 captain was marred by a tough series loss against New Zealand. Pakistan managed to win only one of the five T20 matches on that tour. The poor performance is believed to be one of the reasons behind the selectors’ decision to reinstate Babar as captain. However, given the team’s recent struggles, including a disappointing exit in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, critics have started questioning the wisdom of these decisions.
The entire episode has raised concerns about the internal dynamics of the Pakistan cricket team, especially regarding trust and communication among players and management. The captaincy drama between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi is likely to remain a topic of debate among cricket fans and analysts for some time.
