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 Afridiâs brief tenure and Babar Azamâs 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.
Afridiâs stint as T20I captain commenced with a demanding five-match series against New Zealand, held away from home. Despite the teamâs 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.
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Shaheenâs cryptic quote
In a poignant Instagram story, Afridi cryptically conveyed his inner turmoil, cautioning against underestimating his resilience and fortitude. âNever ever put me in a position where I have to show you how cruel and ruthless I can be. Donât test my patience. Because I might be the kindest and sweetest person youâve ever met, but once I reach my limit, youâll see me do the things that no one thought I was capable of doing,â articulated Shaheen, echoing a poignant sense of defiance amidst adversity.
To whom it may concern,
Regards,
Shaheen Afridi. pic.twitter.com/V5H8sFUIY5â Usama Zafar (@Usama7) April 4, 2024
Shahid Afridiâs perspective
Furthermore, former Pakistan captain and Shaheenâs father-in-law, Shahid Afridi, publicly expressed his astonishment at Babar Azamâs reinstatement, suggesting that wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan emerged as a viable candidate for leadership in the wake of Shaheenâs truncated tenure.