In Pakistan cricket, as a significant development, fast bowler Shahin ShahAfridi is likely to be appointed as the vice-captain of the One Day and T20teams in place of the possibly unfit Shadab Khan.
This decision comes in light of Shadab Khan’s recent poor form. Theleg-spinner Shadab Khan had to face a decline in his performance;statistics show that he took 6 wickets at an average of 40.83 in 5 matchesduring the Asia Cup 2023. Shadab Khano inclusion in the playing eleven hasbeen particularly criticized by fans and experts. Captain Babar Azam isfacing scrutiny for selecting Shadab Khan as the vice-captain, leading tocontroversies.
According to a report by “Jang,” left-arm fast bowler Shahin Shah Afridi isat the forefront to shoulder the role of vice-captain to manage ShadabKhan’s absence. Afridi established a remarkable international record,securing 255 wickets while playing 27 Tests, 44 ODIs, and 52 T20 matches.
His leadership qualities have shone in the Pakistan Super League (PSL),where he led Lahore Qalandars to consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023. Withthe ICC Cricket World Cup set to begin in India on October 5, 2023, thenational team faces multiple challenges on various fronts. Captain BabarAzam has faced intense criticism, especially for his captaincy duringcrucial matches against India and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also concerned about the team’sperformance and Babar Azam’s leadership. PCB Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashrafis deeply interested in resolving issues arising from the defeat in theAsia Cup and other internal matters within the board. Despite ongoingdebates about retaining or changing the captain, it seems that Babar Azamwill continue to lead the team in the upcoming World Cup.
The final decision to retain or replace the captain ultimately rests withthe chairman, but it appears that Babar Azam will continue as the captainfor the ICC Cricket World Cup.
