Shaheen Afridi has opened up about his sudden removal as Pakistan's T20I captain, just six months after being appointed following the team’s disappointing performance at the 2023 World Cup.
Shaheen Afridi's tenure as Pakistan's T20I captain came to a swift end after just one series, but the pacer has expressed pride in his brief leadership role. Afridi was handed the reins after Pakistan's early exit from the 2023 World Cup, where Babar Azam’s captaincy had failed to deliver the desired results.
The left-arm pacer took charge during a five-match T20I series against New Zealand in 2024, but in less than six months, he was removed from the position.
In a recent interaction with Saleem Khaliq, Afridi was asked whether being sacked as captain had affected him emotionally. With his signature wit, Afridi responded, "I don’t have a heart these days," drawing laughter from Khaliq.
However, he quickly added a more reflective note, expressing his pride in having led the national side.
“I am happy that I was the captain of Pakistan. It was a proud moment,” Afridi shared. “You feel proud that you have done something for Pakistan. I am always happy when someone wins the match for Pakistan. Someone has been batting well. I am always proud to represent Pakistan in any field.”
Afridi’s removal came just before the T20 World Cup 2024, where he was replaced by Babar Azam.
Under Azam’s leadership, Pakistan’s hopes were dashed as the team faced early eliminations, losing two of their three group-stage games. A devastating loss to the USA followed by a crushing defeat to India ended Pakistan's tournament.
While Afridi’s time as captain may have been brief, his comments reflect the pride and honour he felt in leading his country, and his continued dedication to Pakistan's cricketing success.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ