Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has dismissed growing suggestions that Shadab Khan should take over the national T20I captaincy, stating that recent performances do not justify either leadership responsibilities or even a guaranteed place in the playing XI.
Speculation around a leadership change intensified after Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup where the team failed to progress beyond the Super 8 stage. Reports have indicated that current captain Salman Ali Agha could be replaced soon with several names circulating in the media including Shadab. Afridi had earlier mentioned that head coach Mike Hesson shares a strong professional relationship with Shadab stemming from their time together in the Pakistan Super League which could influence selection decisions.
However Afridi clarified that his remarks were observational rather than supportive. Speaking publicly he stressed that based on current form Shadab has not delivered consistent match winning performances and therefore should not be considered for captaincy at this stage. Afridi went further by suggesting that team selection should be strictly performance based especially after a disappointing ICC campaign.
During the recent T20 World Cup Shadab managed only one notable performance against Namibia where he contributed with both bat and ball. Apart from that outing he struggled to make a significant impact drawing criticism from former players and analysts. His comments referencing Pakistan’s 2021 victory over India in a previous World Cup also sparked debate among fans and experts.
When asked who should lead Pakistan in the shortest format Afridi put forward the name of Fakhar Zaman describing him as an aggressive cricketer who fits the demands of modern T20 leadership. According to Afridi Pakistan requires a bold approach and Fakhar’s temperament makes him a strong candidate.
Pakistan’s campaign ended after a high scoring contest against Sri Lanka where despite posting a competitive total the team failed to secure the required margin for semi final qualification. The elimination marked the fourth consecutive ICC event in which Pakistan did not reach the knockout stage increasing scrutiny on both team management and leadership.
With discussions around captaincy gaining momentum the Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to review its options carefully as the team looks to rebuild ahead of upcoming international assignments.
