(AP Photo)
Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly criticized Babar Azam, the under-fire captain, for Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. Afridi emphasized that Azam has had ample chances to prove himself as a leader and suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should now seriously consider a change in captaincy.
Pakistan, former champions, suffered early exits from the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, succumbing to defeats against debutants USA and traditional rivals India during the group stage.
“Babar has got a full open chance to lead Pakistan. He has been given enough time to show his worth as captain. Now whatever surgery the PCB wants to do, they should take their decision,” Afridi told the media in Birmingham where he is taking part in the World Legends Championship.
“I have also captained Pakistan and so have Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq but whenever the team has performed badly in the World Cups, first thing the captain faces the knife (sic),” he said.
Afridi additionally stressed that in the event the PCB opts for a new captain, it’s crucial for both him and the recently appointed foreign coaches, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, to be granted sufficient time to demonstrate their capabilities.
“Whatever decision the PCB takes it should take but it should give time to the captain, coach and the system to work,” he added.
The former skipper also expressed his disagreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s choice to dismiss national selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq. The decision came in response to the team’s dismal performance in the T20 World Cup.
“This surgery makes no sense to me… sacking just two selectors,” said Afridi.
Afridi’s son-in-law, Shaheen Shah Afridi, has come under scrutiny following allegations from a television channel suggesting that the fast bowler exhibited behavior below par during the World Cup. According to the channel, white-ball coach Gary Kirsten highlighted in his report that Shaheen showed a lack of cooperation with the management, contributing to a breakdown in discipline within the team.
Furthermore, the channel claimed that the PCB was informed that senior team manager Wahab Riaz and manager Mansoor Rana allegedly overlooked Shaheen’s behavior and did not address it directly with him. There are also accusations that Wahab and Abdul Razzaq, former selectors, exerted pressure on other selectors to include players who were not in form at the time.
