Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has broken his silence on reports that Babar Azam could return as the team’s captain, amid growing speculation over a possible leadership change ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup.
The captaincy issue has once again become a talking point in Pakistan cricket, with reports suggesting that Babar could replace Shaheen as the ODI skipper. Babar recently returned as Pakistan’s Test captain after replacing Shan Masood, and Pakistan drew their series 1-1 under his leadership. His return to the Test captaincy has subsequently fuelled speculation that he could also reclaim the ODI leadership role.
Asked about the reports, Shaheen gave a brief response and made it clear that he remains Pakistan’s ODI captain at present. “For now, I’m the captain,” Shaheen told reporters. The left-arm pacer did not elaborate on whether there had been discussions within the Pakistan Cricket Board about a potential leadership change or whether he expected to continue in the role through the World Cup cycle.
Shaheen was appointed Pakistan’s ODI captain after the team’s disappointing campaign in the Champions Trophy, when the Green Shirts failed to reach the semi-finals. He replaced Mohammad Rizwan in the role. However, Pakistan’s results under Shaheen have been mixed, while the team has also played relatively few ODIs since his appointment, leaving questions about his long-term position as captain.
Apart from the leadership speculation, Shaheen also discussed Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup and the team’s recurring injury problems. He said the National Champions Cup would provide an opportunity to build greater depth in the squad and ensure that suitable replacements are available if injuries occur before or during the tournament. “Whenever we go to a World Cup, we face a lot of injuries. In case there are any injuries before the World Cup, we will already have players available,” he said.
Shaheen also stressed the importance of allowing players to perform in their specialist roles and said performances in domestic cricket would be considered when Pakistan plans its World Cup squad. With the 50-over World Cup scheduled to take place in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe next year, Pakistan will be looking to develop a settled squad and avoid last-minute disruptions. For now, however, Shaheen’s comments indicate that he continues to hold the ODI captaincy, despite the growing speculation surrounding Babar’s possible return to the role.