Shahid Afridi reacts after Babar Azam replaces Shaheen Afridi as T20I captain

Former all-rounder Shahid Afridi has expressed his astonishment following Babar Azam's appointment as Pakistan’s T20I captain, replacing Shaheen Afridi.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the announcement on Sunday, stating that Babar Azam would lead the team in white-ball cricket, including ODIs and T20Is.

“Following unanimous recommendation from the PCB’s selection committee, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has appointed Babar Azam as white-ball (ODI and T20I) captain of the Pakistan men's cricket team,” PCB confirmed on social media.

Shaheen Afridi, who happens to be Shahid Afridi's son-in-law, lost the T20I captaincy after leading Pakistan in just one series against New Zealand earlier this year, which the Men in Green lost. Additionally, Lahore Qalandars, the team Shaheen captained in the recent edition of the Pakistan Super League, finished at the bottom of the table.

Expressing his surprise, Shahid Afridi questioned the decision made by the experienced cricketers on the selection committee.

Shahid suggested that if a change in leadership was necessary, Mohammad Rizwan would have been the better choice in his opinion.

"I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selection committee," Afridi wrote on X.

"I still believe that if change was necessary than Rizwan was the best choice! But since now the decision has been made I offer my full support and best wishes to team Pakistan and Babar Azam," he added.

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.