Shahid Afridi surprised over Babar Azam’s appointment as white-ball cricket skipper

• Shahid Afridi was surprised after Babar Azam’s appointment as skipper.
• PCB announced the news on Sunday on its social media channels.
• Babar’s first task would be to lead Pakistan against New Zealand on home soil.

Ex-all-rounder Shahid Afridi has voiced his surprise at the appointment of Babar Azam as Pakistan’s T20I captain, taking over from Shaheen Afridi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Sunday that Babar Azam would be leading the team in white-ball cricket, which includes ODIs and T20Is.

“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men’s cricket team,” the PCB confirmed on social media.

Shaheen Afridi, who is Shahid Afridi’s son-in-law, was relieved of his T20I captaincy after leading Pakistan in a single series against New Zealand earlier this year, which Pakistan lost. Furthermore, Lahore Qalandars, the team Shaheen led in the recent Pakistan Super League, ended up at the bottom of the table.

Shahid Afridi, expressing his astonishment, questioned the decision made by the seasoned cricketers on the selection committee.

Afridi suggested that if a leadership change was required, Mohammad Rizwan would have been a more suitable choice in his view.

“I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selection committee,” Afridi posted on X.

“I still believe that if change was necessary than Rizwan was the best choice! But since now the decision has been made I offer my full support and best wishes to team Pakistan and Babar Azam,” he added.

With Babar’s return to captaincy, his first duty will be to lead Pakistan in the forthcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand at home, commencing from April 18.

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