‘Wouldn’t even keep him in the team’: Shahid Afridi’s brutal take on Shadab Khan amid captaincy debate

Pakistan’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ended in heartbreak despite a dramatic final Super Eights clash against Sri Lanka. Although they secured a win in their last outing, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals due to an inferior net run rate (NRR), marking their fourth straight exit before the last four in an ICC event.

With the team’s overall performance under scrutiny, questions over leadership and team composition have intensified.

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Former captain Shahid Afridi delivered a blunt assessment of all-rounder Shadab Khan amid speculation over a possible captaincy reshuffle.

“Looking at his performance, I wouldn’t even keep him in the team, let alone give him the captaincy,” Afridi said in an interview with Samaa TV.

Uncertainty surrounds current T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha, who became Pakistan’s fourth T20 captain in 12 months when he took over last year. Media reports have suggested Shadab and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi as potential successors should the board opt for a leadership overhaul.

Shadab’s returns from the tournament, with 118 runs and five wickets in seven matches, have drawn criticism, with Afridi questioning the continued backing he has received. He also referenced head coach Mike Hesson, pointing to his previous association with Shadab at Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League.

“The head coach is giving Shadab chance after chance. That’s why I said Shadab can become the next Pakistan captain. But looking at his recent performance, he doesn’t even deserve a place in the playing XI,” Afridi added.

Pakistan’s fate was sealed in their final Super Eights fixture against Sri Lanka at Pallekele. After posting 221/8, they needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 148 or fewer to remain in contention. Sri Lanka responded with 207/6, and although Pakistan won the match, the margin was insufficient to boost their NRR, confirming their elimination.

Captain Agha endured a difficult tournament with the bat, scoring just 60 runs in seven innings at an average of 10.00 in his maiden World Cup as leader, further fueling debate around the team’s direction.

Afridi has advocated for a more aggressive approach moving forward and backed opener Fakhar Zaman as his preferred candidate for captaincy.

“Looking at the current situation, I would go with Fakhar Zaman. I want an aggressive captain. Right now, only one player fits the bill, and that is Fakhar,” he said.

With another global tournament ending in disappointment, Pakistan now faces crucial decisions regarding leadership, strategy, and squad composition as they attempt to rebuild ahead of future competitions.