Shaheen Shah Afridi’s decision to decline the offer of vice-captaincy for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has ignited discussions within cricketing circles once again.
According to sources close to Afridi, the selection committee proposed him to be the team’s vice-captain alongside skipper Babar Azam, a role he declined.
Afridi reportedly cited his focus on performance over leadership responsibilities, with wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan emerging as a potential candidate for the role, alongside all-rounder Shadab Khan.
Senior sports journalist Abdul Majid Bhatti highlighted Afridi’s commitment to concentrating on his game, especially after being relieved of the T20 captaincy after just five matches.
Bhatti mentioned Afridi’s family influence, particularly his father-in-law Shahid Afridi’s advice to prioritize performance.
Notably, Afridi’s recent standout performances against New Zealand in the T20I series underscore his value to the team.
Despite media speculation, Afridi aims to contribute significantly to Pakistan’s success without disrupting team unity.
Pakistan recently announced their squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, with the tournament commencing on June 1 across the United States and the West Indies.
Afridi had been appointed as the team’s T20 skipper following Babar Azam’s resignation from the position in November last year due to the team’s underwhelming performance.
However, in March 2024, Babar Azam was reinstated as the white-ball captain ahead of Pakistan’s T20I series against New Zealand.
