LAHORE (Daily Point) — In a surprising turn of events, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has expressed a preference for wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan over left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20 captaincy.

Afridi made these remarks during an event in Australia, where he commended Rizwan’s hard work and focus, highlighting his admiration for the cricketer’s ability to concentrate solely on his game. While addressing the audience, Afridi humorously mentioned that he would like to see Rizwan as the T20 captain, implying that Shaheen had inadvertently taken on the role.

Afridi’s candid comments sparked laughter among the crowd and fellow players on stage, including Rizwan, Harif Rauf, and Shaheen. The 23-year-old Shaheen had assumed the captaincy role in November, replacing batting star Babar Azam. Despite his leadership role, Shaheen has continued to excel as a fast bowler, claiming 64 wickets in 52 T20Is and leading Lahore Qalandars to victory in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

This isn’t the first time Afridi has questioned Shaheen’s captaincy abilities. Earlier, he revealed that he had advised Shaheen against accepting the captaincy for Lahore Qalandars, urging him to focus more on his bowling for a year or two. Afridi’s playful yet pointed remarks have added a layer of intrigue to the ongoing discussion about leadership roles in Pakistan cricket.