Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi open up after change in Pakistan captaincy

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced the appointment of Babar Azam as the new captain for white-ball cricket, taking over from Shaheen Shah Afridi in T20Is. This leadership transition prompted reflections from both players.

Shaheen expressed deep gratitude for his time as captain, stating it was a significant honor. He emphasized his commitment to supporting Babar Azam, highlighting their shared goal of advancing Pakistan's cricketing prowess.

“It was an absolute honour to captain the Pakistan National Cricket Team. I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity,” Shaheen said.

“As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam. I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world,” he added.

Babar, in turn, acknowledged Afridi's leadership during the recent T20I series and commended his growth as a player and leader.

“It was a pleasure to play under Shaheen’s leadership in the recent T20I series. He is still young and is improving as a player and as a leader every day. As a captain, I have always valued his input and I will keep consulting him for important decisions going forward. We must take advantage of his strategic understanding of the game. Our joint aim is to make this team the best in the world,” Babar said.

With Babar's reinstatement, his first task as captain will be leading Pakistan in the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand at home, starting from April 18.