Shaheen Afridi says “Honoured and Thrilled After Becoming the New T20I Captain of Pakistan

After getting eliminated from the ODI World Cup 2023, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam announced his withdrawal from captaincy across all formats. The decision followed Pakistan’s inability to reach the semi-finals and conclude the tournament in fifth place. Once Babar Azam exits from the captaincy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced star pacers Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood as new captains for T20Is and Tests respectively.

The decision was taken after receiving mixed reviews on social media and fans expected another name such as Mohammad Rizwan to lead the side. But after getting the captain post, Shaheen was honoured and thrilled as he said that he would uphold the team spirit and bring glory to the nation.

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Babr Azam’s Captaincy Legacy

Initially, Babr took the T20I captaincy in October 2019, extending his leadership responsibilities till May 2022 in ODIs, eventually becoming captain for all formats. In Babar’s captaincy tenure, Pakistan saw the top of the ODI ranking. The team reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals in 2021 and secured a runner-up finish in the subsequent year’s final.

Shaheen Afridi’s Reaction After Taking Leadership Responsibility

Shaheen took to Twitter to express his feelings after becoming the new captain. He expressed gratitude to the PCB and fans for their trust and support, pledging to give his best and bring glory to the nation on the cricket field.

“I am honoured and thrilled to lead our national T20 cricket team. Thank you to the Pakistan cricket board and fans for their trust and support. I’ll give my best to uphold the team spirit and bring glory to our nation on the cricket field. Our success lies in unity, trust and relentless effort. We are not just a team; we are a brotherhood, a family. Together, we rise!” Shaheen posted on ‘X’.

Shaheen has a successful track record as a captain in PSL, leading Lahore Qalandars to consecutive titles in 2022 and 2023. This previous experience positions Shaheen as a leader, instilling confidence in his ability to guide Pakistan’s T20 side.

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