Shahid Afridi on Babar Azam: “There can be an ODI and Test captain and separate skipper for T20Is”

Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi suggests appointing different captains for T20I and longer formats (ODI and Test). The statement follows growing calls for Babar to resign as captain of one of the three formats.

Afridi said Babar must improve as a leader. Pakistan’s three-match ODI series loss to New Zealand prompted the statement. They lost all home Tests against England and the Blackcaps.

Former interim PCB selector told Samaa TV:

“Losing is part of the game, but don’t fear it. Losing experiments doesn’t matter. Experience. Captain Babar must improve. I oppose three captains for three formats. There can be an ODI and Test captain and a T20I captain.
Afridi stressed that the board has time to decide whether to keep Babar.

“Babar Azam has led Pakistan for 2-3 years. He excels individually and leads the team. Decide slowly (on whether to remove him from captaincy from any particular format). Wait.”

Pakistan plays New Zealand in a white-ball series in April.
Shahid Afridi: “The vice-captain can be benched”
Shahid Afridi added that the vice-captain can’t be benched isn’t surprising. He said Shan Masood’s exclusion from the first two ODIs against Pakistan wasn’t new.

said:

“When you bring in a player whose performance [is not great] or who has not played enough ODIs and make him vice-captain, then the senior players feel, it’s part of our culture and we can’t change that. Happens.” Vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan was benched in the Test when we arrived. Vice captains can be benched.

In the series decider against New Zealand, Shan Masood scored a duck. Pakistan lost by two wickets.