Shaheen Afridi should lead Pakistan in T20Is: Aaqib Javed

Former test cricketer and Director Cricket of Lahore Qalandars, Aaqib Javed, has expressed his duly trust in Shaheen Shah Afridi's captaincy skills. He believes that Qalandar's skipper endures an aggressive nature playing cricket - particularly in shorter formats - which will benefit the team in the T20 World Cup in the near future.

Putting his utmost confidence in Shaheen, Aaqib Javed firmly thinks that the 20-year-old should captain the national side in the shorter format. While talking to a local news channel, he said.

"Shaheen Afridi did what none of the captains in PSL did so far. He won back-to-back PSL titles. The way he carries the team and his style of working. In regard to Pakistan cricket, the way they play, and curating dead pitches - we can see perhaps a defensive mindset. Even if you bring Shadab, regardless of the format, I don't see any variations or changes - particularly aggressive change. Or if you bring in Rizwan, there won't be any apparent culture change. If someone can amp up Pakistan cricket and take it in the right direction, that is Shaheen Shah Afridi," he added.

Aaqib Javed also pitched in his opinion regarding Babar's captaincy and stated that he [Babar] is doing well in extensive format cricket and that he should continue leading the side in longer format cricket, i.e., ODI and test cricket.

"I'll talk from a pure cricketing perspective. Babar should stay the captain in test and one-day formats. Now that we don't have a lot of T20 cricket in then near future. Shaheen should lead the national side as a captain, keeping the World Cup in prospect. Even during that time, we might have one more PSL underway. Shaheen's approach is positive, and he plays fearless cricket. I think he should lead the T20 side as the captain. And Babar should continue in the tests and ODI sides," he further added.

Shaheen traced the victory twice in Pakistan Super League, and that too consecutively. He has been hailed on both national and international levels for his captaincy acumen.

Not only this, Qalandar's skipper is known for making brave decisions on the field. It was one of those decisions when in the finals of PSL season 8, he took the bet, geared up, and scored a stalwart inning of 44 runs against Multan Sultan's quality pace attack. It was his gallant slogging that breathed life into the dying and collapsed scorecard of Lahore Qalandars.