• Shahid Afridi criticized Babar Azam.
• Pakistan won against Canada.
• USA advanced to the Super 8 stage.

Shahid Afridi expressed his thoughts on Pakistan’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, emphasizing that Babar Azam should have backed Shaheen Afridi’s leadership as T20Is captain.

Following Pakistan’s departure from the 2023 ODI World Cup, Babar resigned as captain, leading to Shaheen’s appointment for T20Is. Yet, after a series loss to New Zealand, Shaheen was replaced and Babar was reinstated by the PCB under Moshin Naqvi.

On his YouTube channel, Shahid Afridi commented on the captaincy switch after Pakistan’s T20 World Cup elimination. He believed Babar should have supported Shaheen, stating, “If you [PCB] had stated that he will remain the captain till the [T20] World Cup, then I think Babar [Azam] should have supported Shaheen there and should have said that ‘no, if you have made him [Shaheen] the captain, then we are ready to play under his captaincy because Shaheen has been playing with me for a long time. If he is made captain and the selection committee has made him the captain, then yes I will support him and play under his captaincy’. This is the stance Babar should’ve taken.”

Afridi also pointed out that not all blame should fall on Babar as the selection committee also played a part.

Pakistan’s early losses in the World Cup to the USA and India jeopardized their Super 8 chances. They won against Canada but needed Ireland to defeat the USA. The match was rained out, leading to a draw and securing the USA’s advancement over Pakistan.

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