Shaheen Afridi on Captaincy and Future Plans
Shaheen Shah Afridi, the current Pakistan ODI captain, has addressed questions regarding his leadership role ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. Speaking at a press conference for the National Champions Cup 2026, Afridi stated, “For now, I am the captain.” This statement comes amid ongoing discussions within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) concerning leadership changes.
Reports suggest that Babar Azam could potentially return as the team’s all-format captain. Telecom Asia Sport indicated that the PCB has promised Babar the captaincy across all three formats, and after appointing him as the Test captain, the board is reportedly considering giving him charge of the ODI team as well. Sources have claimed that two selectors assured Babar that strong performances in upcoming Test series against the West Indies and England could lead to an all-format role.
Afridi’s comments were made during a period of leadership uncertainty for Pakistan cricket, following a series of less-than-favourable results. Babar had previously led Pakistan in all three formats before stepping down from the captaincy in 2024. Afridi was appointed Pakistan’s ODI captain in October of the previous year, taking over from Mohammad Rizwan.
His appointment as ODI captain did not come with a fixed tenure. Under Rizwan, Pakistan experienced an early exit from the Champions Trophy and suffered an ODI series defeat to the West Indies, marking their first such loss to the Caribbean side in 24 years. Afridi has, however, achieved notable success as captain of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, leading the franchise to three PSL titles over the last five years.
National Champions Cup and Player Development
During the press conference, Afridi also highlighted the significance of the National Champions Cup 2026. He described it as an important tournament for identifying new talent for Pakistan cricket. The tournament, scheduled from August 11 to 18, is expected to help prepare players for the upcoming World Cup.
Afridi noted that the tournament could provide a pool of players to address potential injury concerns before the World Cup. He emphasized that having readily available replacements would be beneficial if any injuries occur. The tournament is also designed to offer all players the chance to showcase their abilities by playing in their preferred positions.
The Pakistan ODI captain stated that the team management would monitor both the performances and fitness of players during the Champions Cup. He mentioned that individual performances, as well as the overall fitness and contributions of other players, would be assessed. The focus remains on preparing for the World Cup, with players aiming to deliver strong performances.
The Pakistan Gold squad for the National Champions Cup 2026 includes Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain, alongside Abdul Samad, Abdul Subhan, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Nawaz, Muhammad Akhlaq (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Imran, and Saad Khan. The tournament schedule includes matches such as Pakistan Greens vs Pakistan Whites on August 11, and the final on August 18.
Speculation and Future Outlook
Despite Afridi’s current captaincy, there have been predictions regarding future leadership. Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has predicted that Babar will captain Pakistan at the 2027 ODI World Cup. The uncertainty surrounding Afridi’s position is partly due to Pakistan’s frequent changes in leadership in recent years.
Pakistan has a busy schedule planned as part of its preparations for the 2027 World Cup. This includes an anticipated home tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England, followed by another tri-series likely to be held in Zimbabwe, featuring Zimbabwe and Ireland. A five-match ODI series in England is also part of their preparations.
While Afridi remains the ODI captain for now, reports suggest that further leadership changes could be on the horizon. The National Champions Cup 2026 is set to conclude on August 18.
Source: tapmad.com
