Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his pride and determination after being appointed as Pakistan’s ODI captain, replacing wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan ahead of the three-match series against South Africa, starting Tuesday at the Iqbal Stadium.
At 25 years old, Shaheen steps into leadership with a sense of honour and responsibility. Speaking at a pre-series press conference, he emphasised the importance of teamwork and respecting the management’s decisions.
“It’s an honour to represent Pakistan as captain. Wearing the national colours is always special, and with this new role comes added responsibility,” Shaheen said.
The left-arm pacer highlighted Pakistan’s strong momentum from the recent T20I series and stressed the team’s commitment to maintaining form as they transition to one-day cricket.
“The boys are in good rhythm after a strong T20 series. Our focus now is to carry that energy into one-day cricket and improve in the areas that matter,” he added.
On questions regarding leadership changes and his earlier tenure as T20I captain, Shaheen maintained a calm stance, reiterating his dedication to Pakistan cricket above personal ambitions.
“Our job is to play cricket and serve Pakistan in whatever role we’re given. Leadership decisions rest with the board and management, and we respect that. My only focus right now is on performing well and helping the team grow in ODIs,” he stated.
Shaheen also voiced his support for former captain Babar Azam, who has recently returned to form in T20Is.
“Every player goes through ups and downs. Babar’s class is never in doubt. Just because he doesn’t perform in a couple of matches doesn’t make him a bad player. For the last four or five years, he’s been our most consistent performer and the highest run-scorer in both T20Is and ODIs,” Shaheen remarked.
He added that senior players’ contributions are vital to Pakistan’s success, noting that Babar’s return to form would provide a significant boost for the team ahead of the ODI series.
With Shaheen Afridi at the helm, Pakistan aims to carry their T20I momentum into the one-day format, while nurturing team cohesion and performance consistency against South Africa.
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