‘We never got so many chances as captain’ - Shahid Afridi lambasts Babar Azam’s leadership

Former cricketer Shahid Afridi expressed his displeasure about Babar Azam’s captaincy after Pakistan’s embarrassing group-stage exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. After failing to qualify for the semi-final of the ODI World Cup in 2023, Azam resigned as the captain of the team but interestingly, after flopping in the series against New Zealand, new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was shown the door by PCB officials.

Babar was back in charge and he once again failed to get the job done, despite having all the players he wanted. Keeping everything in mind, Shahid stated that none of the former captains got so many opportunities to prove themselves in the past. He talked about the importance of giving time to both captain and coach but added how Babar led the team in multiple ICC tournaments and in the Asia Cup but couldn't find any success.

Also Read - PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi summons Gary Kirsten to mull over Babar Azam's captaincy after Pakistan's dismal T20 World Cup

“They should take a decision on the captain or the coach and then give them time. As far as Babar is concerned, we have also captained a lot and a captain never got so many chances. As soon as the World Cup is over, often the captain used to be the first one who got the blame. 2-3 World Cup, 2-3 Asia Cups, he has got enough opportunities,” Afridi told in a viral video.

I don't understand this surgery: Afridi

Afridi also was surprised to see PCB axing Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz from the selection committee. The 47-year-old added that it was not needed as other members of the selection committee were retained with only two of them being sacked.

Also Read - Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq sacked after Pakistan's dismal T20 World Cup show

“I got to know that only Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz have been sacked from the selection committee. I don't understand this surgery. If the selection committee is of 6-7 people then why only these two have been removed?” Afridi said.

Riaz, meanwhile, briefly talked about his sacking and stated that he would issue a statement explaining what went behind the scenes.