The T20 World Cup hangover continues for Pakistan, with their Super 8 ouster sparking a leadership crisis. Shahid Afridi, the iconic boom-boom man, has dropped a verbal grenade on Shadab Khan, insisting the all-rounder doesn’t merit a team place, much less the captain’s armband.
For the fourth straight ICC tournament, Pakistan missed the semifinals, intensifying scrutiny on Salman Agha’s tenure. Speculation swirls around successors like Shadab and Shaheen Afridi, but the elder Afridi shut down Shadab’s hype in a candid Sama TV chat.
‘His form is so poor, I won’t have him in the side—captaincy is out of question,’ Afridi blasted. Shadab’s modest haul of 118 runs and five scalps across seven matches fueled the fire, despite unwavering support from head coach Mike Hesson, whose PSL ties with Shadab at Islamabad United raised eyebrows.
Afridi reflected on his earlier endorsement: ‘Post-PSL, Hesson pushed Shadab into Pakistan cricket. I thought he’d lead, but recent shows prove he’s not even playing XI material.’ Recapping the campaign: thrilling chases against Netherlands and USA, a humiliating India loss, a washed-out Super 8 opener, England’s narrow victory, and a tense Sri Lanka win that fell short of the 65-run margin needed.
Agha’s dismal batting—60 runs at 10 average—as the fourth captain in a year underscores chronic instability. Pushing for firepower, Afridi champions Fakhar Zaman: ‘Fakhar’s the aggressive captain we need right now.’
Pakistan cricket stands at a crossroads, with PCB facing pressure to revamp leadership and squad dynamics. Afridi’s forthright views could sway decisions, urging a return to fearless cricket that once defined the nation.