Shaheen Shah Afridi’s leadership stint with Lahore Qalandars in this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) hasn’t been a smooth sail, with only one victory to his name throughout the tournament. With PSL 9 wrapping up, talks are circulating that Muhammad Rizwan might be stepping up to helm the national T20 team before the upcoming T20 World Cup slated for June.
Sources within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) indicate that Mohsin Naqvi has been proposed to shuffle the captaincy of the National T20 side before the World Cup kicks off. Afridi’s captaincy has come under scrutiny, especially given the Lahore Qalandars’ dismal performance this season, bagging only three points, which is the second-worst in PSL history, just behind Babar Azam’s Karachi Kings in PSL 2022.
There’s a divide among the PCB’s decision-makers regarding Afridi’s suitability as the T20 captain. Some feel his youth might hinder his leadership abilities, while others worry about the team’s cohesion if the 23-year-old is replaced.
The concerns extend beyond the PSL performance. Pakistan’s recent tour to New Zealand in January saw them clinch only one win in the five-match T20 series, ultimately losing by 4-1. Afridi’s struggles continued in the Test series against Australia, where he seemed out of sorts against the Australian batting lineup.
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