Pakistan

Afridi Shakes Cricket World With Big Statement

by
Zainab Shafiq
May 7, 2023

PCB likely to appoint Afridi as chief selector

Table of Contents

Afridi opposes the idea of appointing a vice-captain for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, stating that there should be only one captain who deserves full support and trust.
He suggests that the PCB should have announced Babar Azam as the captain until the World Cup to resolve any lingering captaincy issues.
Afridi shares his expectations for Shaheen Shah Afridi’s bowling prowess and emphasizes the key roles of Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan in the team’s success.

Afridi Shakes Cricket World: No Vice-Captain Needed! Reveals Rising Stars’ Expectations

Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi has stirred up a cricketing debate by asserting that there is no requirement to appoint a vice-captain for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. According to Afridi, the team should solely focus on supporting and trusting their one and only captain.

During a media talk, Afridi stated, “I don’t think there is any need to announce a vice-captain [for World Cup]. There is only one captain, so only keep him in mind and let him do his thing.” He further suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have put the captaincy matter to rest by announcing Babar Azam as the captain until the World Cup.

“They [PCB] should have announced Babar Azam captain till the World Cup earlier, so the issue of captaincy would have ended there and then,” Afridi added.

While acknowledging that Babar Azam has room for improvement in certain aspects, Afridi expressed his belief that Azam should lead the team to India with thorough preparation and confidence.

“I think Babar still needs to work on one or two things which I can see. After that, the captain should go to India with full preparation and confidence,” Afridi concluded.

In a separate tweet, Afridi advised promising pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to prioritize his bowling over batting. Acknowledging Shaheen’s potential in both disciplines, Afridi emphasized the importance of the bowler’s early breakthroughs for Pakistan’s success.

My expectations from Shaheen is first to perform with the ball because ???????? depends on his early breakthrough, and I know he is working hard on his batting as well and we have seen what he can do. But also I have expectations from Ifti and Shadab to perform on your full potential,… https://t.co/2iSNvOGW0p

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) May 6, 2023

Additionally, Afridi expressed high expectations from Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan, recognizing their vital roles in the team’s performance.

Afridi’s comments come as Pakistan sealed a convincing series victory against New Zealand, securing a commanding 4-0 lead. As the team prepares for the upcoming World Cup, Afridi’s opinions on captaincy and player performance add an intriguing perspective to the ongoing discussions surrounding Pakistan’s campaign.