Top News

New Delhi: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has lashed out at the suggestions of making all-rounder Shadab Khan Pakistan’s next captain in T20Is. Afridi said he won’t even pick Shadab in the team, let alone make him the captain of the T20I side. The talks regarding a change in captaincy have grown after Pakistan’s exit from the T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan failed to make it to the semifinals of an ICC event for the fourth consecutive time as they bowed out of the T20 World Cup 2026 from the Super Eight stage. Pakistan managed to beat Sri Lanka by 7 runs in their final Super Eight clash, but the win wasn’t enough to take them through to the semifinals.

After the team’s disappointing show, reports in Pakistani media have claimed that a change in captaincy is imminent. Shadab Khan has emerged as a potential candidate for captaincy alongside senior pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, Afridi is far from pleased with the idea of Shadab being seen as the next captain.

Afridi claimed Shadab can become the next Pakistan captain due to his close relations with the current Pakistan head coach, however, he insisted that the all-rounder’s performance were far from impressive in the T20 World Cup.

“Looking at his performance, I wouldn’t even keep him in the team, let alone give him the captaincy,” Afridi said on Samma TV.

“If Mike Hesson stays on as the coach, he was also there at Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. Mike Hesson became Pakistan’s coach after his stint in the PSL. From there, his association with Shadab started. The head coach is giving Shadab chance after chance. That’s why I said Shadab can become the next Pakistan captain. But looking at his recent performance, he doesn’t even deserve a place in the playing XI,” he added.