Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to appoint Shaheen Afridi as the new One Day International (ODI) captain. Shaheen replaced Mohammad Rizwan, who had been leading the team in the format.
Shaheen Afridi’s first assignment as captain will be the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting on November 4 at Faisalabad Cricket Stadium. The decision to hand him the leadership role was finalized during a meeting in Islamabad, attended by head coach Mike Hesson, director of high performance Aqib Javed, and members of the national selection committee.
Mohammad Amir, in a video statement on his social media handle, expressed disappointment over the move, saying that Mohammad Rizwan had not been treated fairly. “Rizwan was not a bad one-day captain,” he remarked, highlighting that Rizwan led Pakistan to series victories in South Africa and Australia, achievements that even some of Pakistan’s top captains could not secure.
Amir criticized the lack of long-term planning in Pakistan cricket and admitted that former cricketers and analysts were also partly responsible for the instability. He emphasized that consistency in leadership is crucial for building a strong team. “Captains are not made overnight; it takes two to three years to build one,” he said.
He further explained that decisions based on one good or bad series hurt team morale and development. Amir described Rizwan as a smart and capable captain who understood the game well.
Offering a suggestion, Amir said that if Shaheen Afridi was being considered for captaincy, he should have first been appointed as vice-captain to assess his readiness and fitness. “If Shaheen had to be made captain, he could have first been appointed as vice-captain, and his performance judged accordingly,” he concluded.
The PCB’s decision has sparked debate among fans and experts, with many sharing mixed opinions about whether the leadership change will benefit Pakistan’s ODI team ahead of crucial international fixtures.
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