5 Cricketers who became unexpected captains
Unlike other sports, the role of captain becomes even more pivotal and holds more significance than a coach as most decisions on the field are taken instinctively.
4. Gulbadin Naib
From the point of view of cricketing fraternity, Afghanistan’s Gulbadin Naib leading team into the World Cup was one of the most questionable calls in the history of the game. Just before the start of the World Cup, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had sacked Asghar Afghan – who supposedly had done a pretty good job to help the team play the World Cup. However, in all circumstances, Naib getting captaincy baton was looking slim – but what followed was absolute turnaround with ACB doing the unexpected.
In the recently concluded World Cup, Afghanistan team looked all over the place and happens to lose on all nine occasions. The team which was expected to be the dark horse of the tournament failed to give a fight to any of the nine teams who participated in the quadrennial tournament. That wasn’t all. Phil Simmons, whose tenure as their coach ended after the tournament, came out threatening to expose the truth behind the team’s World Cup mess, including the controversial removal of Afghan as captain, suggesting disquiet in the ranks.
Post horrific run, the questions were raised – rightly so – on Naib’s captaincy and his short career as captain was closed permanently. Afghanistan board has now invested in young Rashid Khan to lead the side in all three formats of the game and the star sensation has already been able to prove his worth in lone Test against Bangladesh.
Download Our App