Moin Khan Criticizes Removal of Shaheen Afridi as T20I Captain, Says no One More ‘Suitable’

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Former Pakistan cricketer Moin Khan has voiced his displeasure over the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to remove Shaheen Shah Afridi from the T20I captaincy, calling the move "unjust."

Afridi, who led Pakistan in a brief stint earlier this year, was replaced by Babar Azam following a 1-4 series loss to New Zealand, a decision that has sparked debate within the cricket community.

Speaking to Cricket Pakistan, Moin emphasized Afridi's leadership qualities and his popularity among teammates. "Shaheen Afridi has the ability to lead the team and is highly liked by the players. He is an excellent choice for captaincy in T20s. In white-ball cricket, I don't see anyone else more suitable for the role. Removing him from the captaincy was unjust," Moin said.

He noted that Afridi's performance had dipped since his removal, stressing that stability is essential for a player's confidence and performance. The PCB's decision to revert to Babar Azam as captain for the T20 World Cup 2024 also came under scrutiny.

Pakistan had a poor campaign in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, prompting Azam to step down as all-format captain. However, Moin believes that constant changes in leadership are detrimental to the team's success. "How can you expect good performance if you don't give players confidence? They should be given some time as captain," he added.

Moin has consistently advocated for a more stable approach to leadership within the Pakistan team, suggesting that a single captain be appointed across all formats. He argued that frequent changes and the appointment of multiple captains could lead to confusion and insecurity among players. "Players may not listen to their captain if there are constant changes," he warned.

While Afridi's tenure as T20I captain was brief, Moin believes that he should have been given more time to prove himself. He also proposed that Mohammad Rizwan could be a good short-term captain but highlighted the need for grooming a young leader for the future. Moin's comments come amidst some ongoing discussions in the PCB with a high-profile meeting set for September 22 to decide the future of Pakistan's captaincy.