Babar Azam To Be Sacked As Pakistan Captain? Shahid Afridi Hints at Major Changes
Shahid Afridi urged PCB to pick players on the basis of domestic performances.
Following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup, social media has been abuzz with reports that the selection committee is considering the futures of 8-9 players, including captain Babar Azam, who has faced criticism from former players.
Legendary figures like Wasim Akram, Salman Butt, and Shahid Afridi have questioned both Babar’s leadership and recent form. Notably, Babar stepped down as all-format captain after the ODI World Cup last year but was reappointed by the new PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.
Speaking on the reports of Babar Azam being sacked after the T20 World Cup 2024, Shahid Afridi argues that Pakistan simply can’t afford to drop Babar Azam at this time due to the lack of a suitable replacement.
“On social media, I saw talk of dropping 8-9 players. I don’t know the truth behind it, but such a drastic move wouldn’t be wise. You can only overhaul the team if you have a ready pool of replacements waiting in the wings.”
“If you’re considering dropping Babar, not as a player, but as captain – who would take his place? Do we have another performer of his caliber? The same goes for Rizwan – is there a ready replacement on the bench? These harsh decisions only make sense if you have a new generation ready to step up,” Afridi explained.
“It’s not right to scapegoat the players after every World Cup disappointment. Then, just months before the next one, you’re still experimenting with the squad. That approach is flawed,” Afridi added.
Shahid Afridi also urged the PCB to prioritize the selection of players based on consistent performances in domestic tournaments, rather than picking individuals based on a few isolated good knocks.
“If we keep selecting players based on two or three good innings and continue to ignore the stars of domestic cricket, it’s a slap in the face to those who grind away for years in the domestic circuit,” he concluded.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign came to a premature end after rain washed out the USA vs Ireland match, which also eliminated them from contention. They will play a final group-stage match against Ireland on Sunday before heading home.
