Shahid Afridi was regarded as one of the primary motivators behind Shaheen’s nomination as national T20 skipper during last year’s ODI World Cup India.
After rumors circulated that the tall pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi would lose his position as the national T20 captain, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi stepped forward to defend his son-in-law. Afridi said to the media on Tuesday, “I believe that if you have appointed someone as captain (Shaheen) and given him the responsibility then give him time as well.” “The main issue with our cricket is that every time a new face is added to the board, our system gets altered. “Whoever steps in believes that what he is doing is best for Pakistani cricket,” Afridi remarked.
Shaheen should be given enough time to establish himself, Afridi said.
“If you change the captain then either the decision to appoint him was wrong or the decision to change him now is wrong,” he stated.
After India’s victory in the ODI World Cup last year, Afridi was seen as a major factor in Shaheen’s selection as the country’s T20 captain. After Pakistan was unable to go past the league stages, Babar Azam was replaced as the white-ball team captain. Then, in the red-ball format, the captain resigned.
Afridi supported the hiring of a foreign coach as well, but he suggested that the coach be well-known and experienced, similar to Andy Flower.
“I believe that even if you bring in a foreign coach, the staff under him should be Pakistani so that our people can also move forward and improve their skills,” he told reporters.
When asked about his choice to include Imad Wasim and Muhammad Amir in the national training camp, Afridi felt it would have been wiser to first check their fitness.
“But I can tell you that if they can come through this two-week training camp in Kakul they will be supermen,” he added.
Amir, who will retire after 2020, has also backed Shaheen as T20 skipper.
He wrote on Twitter, “Shaheen is not bad and I think he should be given time to prove his credentials.”
