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Shahid Afridi opens up on Babar Azam’s leadership after T20 World Cup 2024
By SMCS - Jul 12, 2024 9:00 am
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Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said the amount of chances Babar Azam has received as the captain of the Pakistan team, hardly played get that. However, Pakistan exited the 2024 T20 World Cup after defeats to India and the USA and failed to reach the Super Eights as well.

Babar Azam
Babar Azam

However, Afridi highlighted how former Pakistan captains like himself didn’t get nearly enough chances whereas Babar Azam was handed a long rope. Speaking in a video that has gone viral on social media, here’s what Shahid Afridi said (via X/@hassam_sajjad):

“They should take a decision on the captain or the coach and then give them time. As far as Babar is concerned, we have also captained a lot and a captain never got so many chances. As soon as the World Cup is over, often the captain used to be the first one who got the blame. 2-3 World Cup, 2-3 Asia Cups, he has got enough opportunities.”

However, Afridi also opined that it was important for the PCB to take a call soon and back the new captain and coach as well. Shahid Afridi also wanted to know the reason why Pakistan selectors and former cricketers Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz were sacked from the selection committee on Wednesday, July 10.

Babar Azam
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan

“I got to know that only Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz have been sacked from the selection committee. I don’t understand this surgery. If the selection committee is of 6-7 people then why only these two have been removed?,” he asked.

However, Shahid Afridi also said that it will interesting to see how Gautam Gambhir makes use of the opportunity to coach the Indian senior national men’s team as well.

“It’s a new opportunity, it’s good. Let’s see how he makes the most of the opportunity. I have seen a lot of his interviews. He speaks good, positive things. He is very straightforward,” Shahid Afridi told Star Sports on the sidelines of the World Championship of Legends T20 tournament in the UK as well.