Pakistan Pacer Shaheen Afridi Declines T20 World Cup Vice-Captaincy Offer

May 25, 2024 0 803

Pakistan’s pace bowler Shaheen Afridi declined the offer to be the vice-captain for the T20 World Cup, sparking speculation about tension with the PCB.

Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has reportedly declined the opportunity to be the national team’s vice captain for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. This decision has sparked speculation about a potential rift between Afridi and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB initially planned to appoint Afridi as Babar Azam’s deputy for the tournament. However, the 24-year-old bowler rejected the offer, leaving the team without a designated vice captain.

This development comes after Afridi was removed from the T20 captaincy just weeks ago, having led the Pak camp in only one series. While he publicly stated he had moved on, reports suggest there may be lingering resentment over the PCB’s decision.

Sources close to Afridi claim he felt the reasons for his removal as captain were never clearly communicated. With his recent dismissal from a leadership role, he may be hesitant to accept another one so soon.

Previously, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi hinted at the possibility of replacing Afridi as captain. This led to a public statement from the board containing comments attributed to Afridi, which he later denied making.

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Afridi’s refusal to take on a formal leadership role is significant, considering his position as a core member of Pakistan’s T20 squad. The PCB reportedly considered other players, including Shadab Khan and Mohammad Rizwan, for the vice-captaincy but ultimately decided against appointing one at this time.

Pakistan, led by captain Babar Azam, is currently playing a four-match T20I series against England in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup. The 15-member World Cup squad has also been recently announced by the PCB. Babar and Co. will play their first T20 World Cup match on June 6th against the United States.