LAHORE: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has come down heavily on embattled skipper Babar Azam for the team’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup, saying that he had been given enough opportunities to lead the side, and it was time for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take a call on his captaincy.
Former champion Pakistan lost to newcomers USA and archrival India to be eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup held in the USA and West Indies.
“Babar has got a full open chance to lead Pakistan. He has been given enough time to show his worth as captain. Now whatever surgery the PCB wants to do, they should take their decision,” Afridi told the media in Birmingham where he is taking part in the World Legends Championship.
“I have also captained Pakistan and so have Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq but whenever the team has performed badly in the World Cups, first thing the captain faces the knife (sic),” he said.
Afridi also said that if the PCB decides to appoint a new skipper, he and the two new foreign coaches -- Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie -- should be given enough time to prove themselves.
“Whatever decision the PCB takes it should give time to the captain, coach and the system to work,” he added.
The former skipper also disagreed with the PCB’s decision to sack national selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq.
The two former Test players were removed from the selection committee in the wake of the team’s disastrous T20 World Cup campaign.
“This surgery makes no sense to me... sacking just two selectors,” said Afridi. Agencies
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