Babar Azam-led Pakistan continues to grapple with leadership issues. Former captain Shahid Afridi reignited the debate surrounding the removal of Shaheen Afridi as captain. Babar Azam's return to the helm earlier this year sparked Afridi's disapproval, particularly because Shaheen's captaincy was cut short after a single series. Afridi criticises the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for removing Shaheen so quickly, especially considering their recent string of losses in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Notably Babar himself was removed as captain after Pakistan's disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, paving the way for Afridi's short-lived appointment as white-ball captain. This back-and-forth with the captaincy has created a sense of instability within the Pakistan team.
The new Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, Mohsin Naqvi, opted for a change in leadership after a T20 series loss. He reinstated Babar Azam as captain for white-ball cricket earlier in 2024, sparking controversy. This move did not go down well with Shaheen's close relative, Shahid Afridi, a former star cricketer himself. He publicly criticised the PCB for doubting Shaheen's captaincy skills and argued that Shaheen deserved a longer chance. Many cricket legends echoed Afridi's sentiment.
Shahid Afridi talks up Babar Azam's captaincy
“Har insaan ki apni soch hai. Mai isko iss tarah leta hu ke meri nazar mei, duniya ki nazar mei, Babar Azam ki izzat aur zyada upar ho jaati agar woh ye stand leta apne player ke liye ki 'main Shaheen ki kaptaani mei khelna chahta hu...Shaheen ko agar bana diya kaptaan toh ye galat tareeqa hai ke aap usko fauran kaptaani se hata dein' (Everyone has his own opinion. How I see it is that in my eyes and the eyes of the world, respect for Babar would have grown had he said at the time that he will play under Shaheen's captaincy and that it was wrong to remove Shaheen as captain so early),” Shahid Afridi said on Samaa TV’s show.
Afridi pointed a finger at internal rift within the Pakistan team, suggesting it undermines the captain's authority and creates a disrespectful environment. He specifically criticized Babar Azam's tendency to shift blame towards the bowlers after losses. According to Afridi, a strong captain should take responsibility for the team's performance (both batting and captaincy) and work towards building a unified team spirit.
“If a captain is of a strong character, then news like the formation of groups in the team will never come out,” Afridi added.
Pakistan got back on track with a convincing seven-wicket win over Canada but their Super 8 qualification still hangs in balance. Babar Azam's brigade will next face Ireland on June 16.
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