Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has shared his thoughts on being removed from the T20I captaincy ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Afridi, who took over the captaincy in November 2023 following Babar Azam’s resignation, emphasized his commitment to the national team over personal achievements.
Afridi became Pakistan’s T20I captain after Babar Azam stepped down following the team’s disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
However, his tenure as captain was short-lived, as Babar was reinstated less than six months later. During this period, Afridi captained the team in a single T20I series, a five-match showdown against New Zealand on their home turf.
Despite the leadership change, Pakistan’s fortunes did not improve as the team continued to struggle. They had a disappointing lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2024 and were eliminated in the first round of the tournament.
Addressing the media, Shaheen Afridi made it clear that his dedication to representing Pakistan remained unaffected by the loss of captaincy. “For me, Pakistan comes first. Then the team, and then me. I don’t live in the past, I stay in the present,” Afridi stated. “I don’t think about the future because if your present is fine, then the future takes care of itself. Whether captaincy is given to me or taken away, these things are not in my control, and I don’t play my cricket for these things.”
Afridi’s performance on the field supports his words. Since Babar’s return as captain in April 2024, Afridi has played 13 matches, taking 23 wickets with an impressive average of 14.34, including six instances of taking three wickets in a match.
“I play cricket to serve Pakistan, and I’ll play it with respect and will win more games for Pakistan,” Afridi added. “I don’t look at the negative reports [written about me]. Because if I look at them, then how will I perform for Pakistan?”
“My intention has always been to fight for the side, and I’ll keep fighting. I don’t look at negative things. For as long as I play, I’ll do it with pride for Pakistan.”
Looking ahead, Pakistan is set to face Bangladesh in a two-Test series at home in August, part of the World Test Championship. The team currently holds the 5th position in the standings with a point-percentage of 36.66%.
This narrative not only highlights Shaheen Afridi’s unwavering commitment to his national team but also underscores the challenges faced by Pakistan cricket, setting the stage for their upcoming series against Bangladesh.