Shahid Afridi Blames Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Slump on Leadership, Praises Rohit Sharma’s Aggression

July 2, 2024 0 676

Shahid Afridi, former Pakistani cricket captain, critiqued the national team’s leadership after T20 WC exit and called for investment in developing young talent.

Pakistan cricket faced intense criticism after performing below par in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite being placed in a group with an easy passage into the knockout stages, they were eliminated after early defeats to the USA and India. Captain Babar Azam’s performance as both a leader and batter has come under heavy scrutiny. In terms of his field positions and a disappointing batting average of 30.5 (122 runs off 4 innings), he did not live up to expectations.

Babar Azam’s leadership is questionable. According to former Pakistani captain Shahid Afridi, captains should be strong so that they can inspire their teammates. He even compared Babar’s captainship skills to those of Rohit Sharma, who led India to success in the recently concluded World Cup. The former Pakistani player also admired Rohit Sharma’s aggressive style while playing and how he would have his team believe that they could win every game no matter what the situation was.

“The role of a leader is crucial. The captain’s body language becomes the team’s body language. The leader has to set an example. Take Rohit Sharma, for instance. Look at his game and his style of playing. The lower-order batsmen come in confident because the captain himself likes to play aggressive cricket,” Afridi stated, as quoted by the Hindustan Times.

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Unsure about the exact plans of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the future, Afridi voiced his desire for some big changes. He emphasised the need for comprehensive reforms that go beyond surface-level adjustments. Afridi also raised concerns about the development of young talent at the grassroots level. He advocated for increased investment in resources to nurture skilled players who can lead Pakistan cricket to success in the years to come.

“I don’t know what the PCB chairman has planned, but I’m waiting to see what changes they make. I’ve always supported the team and will continue to do so. But we need positive decisions, not just cosmetic changes. The real issue lies at the grassroots level. Our talent pool is weak, and if we invest there, good players will emerge,” concluded the ex-PAK skipper.