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In the aftermath of his abrupt dismissal as T20I captain by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaheen Afridi, the formidable pace spearhead, took to Instagram to share a deeply introspective message, subtly hinting at his disillusionment with the decision.
Shaheen Afridi’s brief tenure and Babar Azam’s reinstatement
Following the disappointing performance of the Men in Green at the ODI World Cup last year, Babar Azam stepped down from his leadership role, leading to Shaheen taking charge of the Pakistan T20I team. Concurrently, Shan Masood assumed the captaincy of the Test side.
Afridi’s stint as T20I captain commenced with a demanding five-match series against New Zealand, held away from home. Despite the team’s efforts, Pakistan suffered a significant setback, losing the series 4-1 to the Black Caps. However, this series provided the 23-year-old captain with the sole opportunity to demonstrate his leadership abilities and brilliance, as Babar was subsequently reinstated as the white-ball captain ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand in April and the T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
Also READ: Rashid Latif makes massive allegations against Babar Azam after Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy exit
Shaheen’s cryptic quote
In a poignant Instagram story, Afridi cryptically conveyed his inner turmoil, cautioning against underestimating his resilience and fortitude. “Never ever put me in a position where I have to show you how cruel and ruthless I can be. Don’t test my patience. Because I might be the kindest and sweetest person you’ve ever met, but once I reach my limit, you’ll see me do the things that no one thought I was capable of doing,” articulated Shaheen, echoing a poignant sense of defiance amidst adversity.
To whom it may concern,
Regards,
Shaheen Afridi. pic.twitter.com/V5H8sFUIY5— Usama Zafar (@Usama7) April 4, 2024
Shahid Afridi’s perspective
Furthermore, former Pakistan captain and Shaheen’s father-in-law, Shahid Afridi, publicly expressed his astonishment at Babar Azam’s reinstatement, suggesting that wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan emerged as a viable candidate for leadership in the wake of Shaheen’s truncated tenure.
