Amidst the ongoing turmoil surrounding the captaincy of the Pakistan cricket team, fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has taken to Instagram to express his sentiments. Following his removal from the T20 captaincy by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaheen shared a cryptic post on his Instagram story, hinting at his feelings regarding the recent turn of events.
In the wake of Pakistan’s 4-1 series defeat against New Zealand just ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, Shaheen Afridi was replaced as captain by Babar Azam. The decision, announced by the PCB, sparked discussions and speculation within the cricketing community.
Shaheen’s Instagram story featured a video with poignant lines, stating, “Never ever put me in a position where I have to show you how cruel and ruthless I can be. Don’t test my patience. Because I might be the kindest and sweetest person you’ve ever met, but once I reach my limit, you’ll see me do the things that no one thought I was capable of doing.”
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who is Shaheen’s father-in-law, weighed in on the situation, revealing his reservations about Shaheen assuming the captaincy role. Afridi emphasized the importance of Shaheen focusing on his cricket and stated his preference for keeping the young pacer away from leadership responsibilities, citing past experiences.
“I want Shaheen to focus on his own cricket. I always tried to keep Shaheen away from captaincy,” Afridi remarked in a statement quoted from Geo News.
Shaheen Afridi’s stint as T20I captain was initially based on his impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he led Lahore Qalandars to consecutive title victories in 2022 and 2023. However, the PCB’s decision to reinstate Babar Azam was described as a “strategic move” aimed at prioritizing player well-being and performance optimization.
Babar Azam’s reinstatement as captain comes ahead of the upcoming five-match home T20I series against New Zealand scheduled from April 18 onwards. With the T20 World Cup looming just two months away, Pakistan seeks to bolster its preparations under Babar’s leadership.
Having led Pakistan to the final of the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, Babar Azam aims to guide his team to greater success as the tournament shifts to the USA and West Indies. As Pakistan’s cricketing journey unfolds, the focus remains on steering the team towards excellence on the global stage.
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