Shaheen Afridi Rejects Vice-Captain Role

Former Captian Shaheen Afridi has declined the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) offer to become the national side’s vice-captain, according to a report by Geo News on Saturday. Sources close to Shaheen confirmed that the selection committee proposed him as vice-captain and second in command to skipper Babar Azam, but he refused the offer.

This development follows the PCB’s decision in March to reinstate Babar as the T20 captain, replacing Shaheen based on the newly formed selection committee’s recommendation. The PCB, under Zaka Ashraf, had appointed Shaheen as the white-ball captain after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC World Cup 2023.

With Shaheen declining the vice-captaincy, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as a strong candidate for the role. Additionally, all-rounder Shadab Khan is also in contention for the position.

The announcement comes ahead of Pakistan’s squad reveal for the T20 World Cup 2024, set to begin on June 1 in the United States and West Indies.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 Squad:

• Babar Azam (c)
• Saim Ayub
• Mohammad Rizwan
• Azam Khan
• Shadab Khan
• Fakhar Zaman
• Usman Khan
• Iftikhar Ahmed
• Imad Wasim
• Abrar Ahmed
• Mohammad Abbas Afridi
• Mohammad Amir
• Naseem Shah
• Shaheen Shah Afridi
• Haris Rauf

In a press release, the PCB expressed confidence in the squad’s talent and balance, highlighting the mix of youth and experience. “These players have been playing together for some time and look well prepared and settled for next month’s event,” the PCB stated.

The board also provided an update on Haris Rauf, confirming his fitness and promising performance in the nets. “Haris Rauf is fully fit and bowling well in the nets. It would have been nice if he had gotten an outing at Headingley, but we remain confident that he will continue to maintain an upward trajectory in the upcoming matches, as he will have an important role to play along with other strike bowlers in the T20 World Cup.”

Pakistan is placed in Group A for the tournament, alongside India, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

The rejection of the vice-captaincy by Shaheen Afridi brings a new dynamic to the team’s leadership structure, with Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan poised to take on more significant roles. Fans and analysts will be closely watching how this decision impacts the team’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2024.