Srinagar: Former Pakistan Cricketer Aaqib Javed has backed pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to lead Pakistan in T20 Internationals.
Aaqib Javed thinks that the 20-year-old Shaheen should captain the Pakistan side in the shorter format.
“Shaheen Afridi did what none of the captains in PSL did so far. He won back-to-back PSL titles. The way he carries the team and his style of working. In regard to Pakistan cricket, the way they play, and curating dead pitches – we can see perhaps a defensive mindset. Even if you bring Shadab, regardless of the format, I don’t see any variations or changes – particularly aggressive change. Or if you bring in Rizwan, there won’t be any apparent culture change. If someone can amp up Pakistan cricket and take it in the right direction, that is Shaheen Shah Afridi,” Aaqib Javed was quoted as saying.
Aaqib Javed also said that he [Babar] is doing well in extensive format cricket and that he should continue leading the side in longer format cricket, i.e., ODI and test cricket.
“I’ll talk from a pure cricketing perspective. Babar should stay the captain in test and one-day formats. Now that we don’t have a lot of T20 cricket in then near future. Shaheen should lead the national side as a captain, keeping the World Cup in prospect. Even during that time, we might have one more PSL underway. Shaheen’s approach is positive, and he plays fearless cricket. I think he should lead the T20 side as the captain. And Babar should continue in the tests and ODI sides,” he further added.
