Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi applauded the body language of India captain Rohit Sharma for his role in India’s title-winning run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 as well. Afridi also raised concerns about Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s leadership during the recently concluded tournament as well. While India broke their 11-year-old ICC title jinx after a thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in Bridgetown, Barbados, Pakistan failed to progress to the Super 8s, after losing to the USA and arch-rivals India during the Group stage as well.

“Look, the role of a leader is always very important. The body language of the leader becomes the body language of the team. The leader has to set an example. Take Rohit Sharma as an example,” Shahid Afridi said. Afridi, who has played 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is, emphasized that Rohit instills a sense of self-belief in his team with his aggressive style of play. “Now, look at his (Rohit’s) game and his style of playing; the lower-order batsmen who come in are all confident because the captain likes to play aggressive and attacking cricket. So, I always believe that the role of the captain is very important,” added Shahid Afridi.

Afridi, who is also the father-in-law of Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should give the national selection committee the authority to appoint the team captain as well.

“I don’t know what the PCB chairman has in mind now and I am also waiting to see what changes will be made, but I have always supported the team and will keep doing that. I am also waiting to see what these changes will be. A positive decision needs to be made, and the changes shouldn’t just be superficial. The real issue lies at the grassroots level of our cricket. Our product is weak at the grassroots level, and if we invest there, good players will emerge,” Shahid Afridi concluded.