Shaheen Afridi addresses Pakistan ODI captaincy amid 2027 World Cup preparations
Shaheen Afridi’s Captaincy Stance
Shaheen Shah Afridi, the current Pakistan ODI captain, has addressed questions regarding his leadership role ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. His comments come amidst reports suggesting that Babar Azam could potentially return as the team’s all-format captain. Afridi stated, “For now, I am the captain,” when asked about his future in the role. This statement was made during a press conference with captains participating in the National Champions Cup 2026.
The question of captaincy has been a significant topic within the Pakistan cricket community, particularly given the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)‘s history of leadership changes in recent years. Reports from Telecom Asia Sport indicate that the PCB has assured Babar Azam of the captaincy across all three formats. After being appointed as the Test captain, the board is reportedly considering giving him charge of the ODI team as well.
Afridi was specifically asked whether white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and chief selector Aqib Javed continued to support him as the ODI captain. He responded with a smile before reiterating his current position. The discussions around captaincy are occurring as Pakistan navigates further leadership adjustments following a series of less-than-favorable results.
National Champions Cup and World Cup Preparations
Beyond the captaincy discussions, Shaheen Afridi highlighted the importance of the ongoing National Champions Cup 2026. He emphasised that the tournament, scheduled from August 11 to 18, is crucial for developing new talent for Pakistan cricket. Afridi noted that the tournament could help mitigate the impact of potential injuries before the World Cup by providing a pool of available players for replacements.
Afridi also mentioned that the Champions Cup offers players an opportunity to showcase their abilities by playing in their preferred positions. He stated that the team management would be closely monitoring both the performances and fitness levels of players during this tournament. The captain stressed that the focus remains on the upcoming World Cup, with individual performances and the overall fitness of other players being assessed.
The Pakistan Gold squad for the National Champions Cup includes Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain, alongside players such as Abdul Samad, Abdul Subhan, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Nawaz, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Muhammad Imran, and Saad Khan. The tournament schedule features several matches, including Pakistan Greens vs Pakistan Whites on August 11, Pakistan Blues vs Pakistan Gold on August 12, and the final on August 18.
Leadership Changes and Future Outlook
Babar Azam had previously led Pakistan across all three formats before stepping down from the captaincy in 2024. Shaheen Afridi was appointed as Pakistan’s ODI captain in October of the previous year, taking over from Mohammad Rizwan. His appointment did not come with a fixed tenure. Under Rizwan’s leadership, Pakistan had experienced an early exit from the Champions Trophy and a subsequent ODI series defeat against the West Indies, marking their first series loss to the Caribbean side in 24 years.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his national ODI captaincy, Shaheen Afridi has achieved notable success as captain of Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League. He has led the franchise to three PSL titles in the last five years, which has bolstered his credentials for national leadership. There were initial expectations that Afridi would continue as Pakistan’s ODI captain until the 2027 World Cup, which is set to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. However, the frequent leadership changes within Pakistan cricket have introduced uncertainty regarding his long-term position.
Reports from Telecom Asia Sport suggest that Babar Azam accepted the Test captaincy after receiving assurances that he could eventually become Pakistan’s all-format captain. Sources reportedly informed the publication that two selectors had assured Babar that strong performances in the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies and a three-Test tour of England would lead to consideration for the all-format role. Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has also predicted that Babar will captain Pakistan at the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Pakistan has a busy schedule planned as part of its preparations for the World Cup. This includes an anticipated home tri-series involving Sri Lanka and England, followed by another tri-series featuring Zimbabwe and Ireland, likely to take place in Zimbabwe. A five-match ODI series in England is also part of their preparations. For the time being, Shaheen Afridi remains Pakistan’s ODI captain, but reports suggest that further leadership changes could be on the horizon.
The National Champions Cup 2026 is scheduled to conclude on August 18.
Source: tapmad.com
