The Pakistan cricket team is currently facing significant challenges, marked by a series of disappointing performances that have seen them lose to teams ranging from the United States to Bangladesh. During this tumultuous period, the cricketing landscape in Pakistan has undergone notable changes, including shifts in leadership roles and the support staff. Amidst this backdrop, a close friend of Babar Azam has made explosive claims regarding the captaincy situation, stirring controversy and accusations of betrayal concerning Shaheen Afridi.
Questioning Babar’s Allegiance to Shaheen Afridi
Following the conclusion of the ODI World Cup 2023, Babar Azam stepped down from his role as captain across all formats. Subsequently, Shaheen Afridi was appointed to lead the T20 squad. However, after just one T20 series, in a surprising twist, Babar was reinstated as captain for both the One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20s. Pakistani journalist Qadir Khwaja, who is believed to have a close rapport with Babar, has revealed intriguing details about this development.
Revelations from Journalist Qadir Khwaja
According to Qadir Khwaja’s claims, Shaheen Afridi expressed his willingness to relinquish the captaincy for Babar Azam, even consulting the star batsman about it. Babar allegedly misled Shaheen, presenting himself as disinterested in the captaincy, which led Shaheen to believe that he had Babar’s support. Khwaja asserts that Babar was aware of his impending return to captaincy while Shaheen remained oblivious, resulting in a profound shock for the pacer when he was stripped of the captaincy.
It has been reported that a conversation took place between Babar and Shaheen during a training camp in Kabul, with another team management member misleading Shaheen into believing he would continue as captain. This manipulation and lack of transparency contributed to the current rift, raising questions about loyalty and the ethics of internal team dynamics.
Captaincy Shift After a Single Series
Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy journey was short-lived, comprising only one T20 series during the New Zealand tour, where his team suffered a 4-1 defeat. Consequently, he was removed from the captaincy, and Babar Azam was reinstated. This decision did not yield the desired results, as the Pakistan team faced an early exit from the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2024, leading to further scrutiny of the selectors’ choices.
