Shadab Khan has come forward and openly spoke about the recent captaincy change in the Pakistan Cricket Team ahead of the T20 World Cup. The star all-rounder has expressed his belief that Shaheen Afridi deserved more time at the helm before being replaced by Babar Azam.
Just two months before the much-anticipated T20 World Cup, Babar Azam reclaimed the captaincy of Pakistan’s white-ball teams. This move came after Shaheen Afridi‘s brief stint as T20I captain, which saw Pakistan lose a 5-match series 1-4 to New Zealand.
Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi captaincy saga
Babar Azam had previously stepped down as captain across all formats after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they failed to reach the semifinals.
Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan’s fast bowling star, was then appointed T20I captain. However, the change in leadership didn’t translate to better results on the field. Reports also suggested Shaheen was considering resigning as captain due to a lack of involvement in discussions about his future in the role.
Shaheen Afridi deserved more time: Shadab Khan
Addressing the captaincy change, Shadab Khan felt Shaheen Afridi should have been given a longer opportunity to establish himself in the role. However, he acknowledged Babar Azam‘s experience as a positive for the team.
“From Shaheen’s point of view, things shouldn’t have changed so rapidly; instead, a system or adequate process should have been in place to ensure consistency and provide consistent results. Unfortunately, due to injury I didn’t play under Shaheen, so when I returned, I was still playing under Babar, and things were relatively the same for me. Looking at it from Shaheen’s perspective, maybe he could have been given a longer run in the role. However, having Babar back also provides us with an experienced captain, so not much has changed to make it harder for me,” Shadab Khan told Wisden.
Shadab Khan: Key Pakistan player
Shadab Khan, a key player in Pakistan’s white-ball teams, has become a specialist in shorter formats since his last Test appearance in 2020. He’s also a successful franchise cricketer, recently leading Islamabad United to a record-breaking third Pakistan Super League title.
Shadab also clarified his role as a spin-bowling all-rounder, despite showcasing some batting prowess recently. He emphasized his commitment to contributing in all facets of the game.
Mentorship matters
Shadab in interview highlighted the importance of mentors in a cricketer’s life, especially for managing mental pressure. He credited figures like Saqlain Mushtaq and Rehan Ul Haq for their guidance.
While Shadab prefers batting higher up the order, he remains adaptable and prioritizes team needs. He acknowledged enjoying success at number 4 for Islamabad United but is comfortable playing wherever required for Pakistan.
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New Pakistan Coaching Staff
While acknowledging Gary Kirsten’s recent arrival, Shadab Khan sees continuity with Azhar Mahmood’s return as head coach. He feels the team is progressing positively under the new coaching setup and expects it to benefit his bowling, particularly in the middle overs.
Shadab identified Saim Ayub, Azam Khan, and Abbas Afridi as young talents to watch. He emphasized the need for patience and support for these developing players.
Pakistan eye T20 World Cup Glory
The 2009 T20 World Cup champions, Pakistan, finished runners-up in the 2022 edition after a crushing defeat by England in the final. Their quest for T20 World Cup glory continues in 2024, with their opening match against the host nation, USA, scheduled for June 6th at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.
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