Now Reading: Shaheen Afridi Insists He Is Still ODI Captain Amid Babar Takeover Talk
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Shaheen Afridi Insists He Is Still ODI Captain Amid Babar Takeover Talk
Shaheen Afridi has said he remains Pakistan's ODI captain, pushing back against reports that Babar Azam is set to take over all formats. Asked about backing from head coach Mike Hesson and…
The Story in Brief
Shaheen Afridi has said he remains Pakistan's ODI captain, pushing back against reports that Babar Azam is set to take over all formats. Asked about backing from head coach Mike Hesson and selector Aaqib Javed, Shaheen gave a wry smile and said, 'Till now I am the captain.' According to Telecom Asia Sport, the PCB has promised Babar the all-format captaincy, and he has already been appointed Test skipper for the West Indies and England tours on condition of good results. Shaheen was made ODI captain in October after Mohammad Rizwan was removed following Pakistan's Champions Trophy exit and a historic series loss to the West Indies. He is expected to lead until the 2026 ODI World Cup in Africa, but frequent changes leave no guarantees.
The Indian Opinion
The endless captaincy shuffle in Pakistan cricket once again obscures the real issue: consistent leadership breeds results. Reports that Babar Azam demanded all-format control before accepting the Test role suggest power struggles, not team-building. Shaheen Afridi, despite leading Lahore Qalandars to three PSL titles, now faces uncertainty. The PCB must stop treating captaincy as a bargaining chip. The real test: will Babar's performance in the West Indies and England tours actually settle the matter, or will the board flip again before the World Cup?
Sources (2): sports.ndtv.com, sports.ndtv.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
