Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle made an interesting observation, suggesting that the Lahore Qalandars franchise may be influencing the promotion of Shaheen Afridi as a potential captain for the Pakistan cricket team. 

While talking on Cricbuzz, Bhogle pointed out that the Lahore Qalandars franchise holds significant influence within the landscape of Pakistan’s cricket. He hinted that the push for Afridi as captain may be influenced by the franchise.

"Lahore Qalandars are an influential franchise. You can see where the noises are coming from. It’s not that Shaheen might become a very good captain for all that you know. He is injury prone; he has got a lot of bowling to do,” Bhogle said.

The discussion also touched upon the ongoing 2023 World Cup and the future prospects of both Afridi and Babar Azam as potential captains. Bhogle emphasized the need to evaluate their leadership capabilities after the conclusion of the tournament.

“What if Pakistan win the next three, New Zealand capsize, suddenly Pakistan in the semis. Does that make Babar a good captain and Shaheen no longer a contender?” he questioned.

Babar Azam’s captaincy has been under scrutiny as Pakistan suffered four consecutive losses in the tournament. On the other hand, Afridi has been a standout performer for both Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the national team. However, the debate surrounding the national team’s captaincy is likely to continue until an official announcement is made.