Pakistan’s reinstated captain, Babar Azam, has addressed the latest captaincy controversy involving Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was changed by Azam after Pakistan’s 1-4 loss to New Zealand underneath Afridi’s management. Reports surfaced suggesting Afridi was discontent with how he was faraway from captaincy, fueled additional by his cryptic social media posts. Despite this turmoil, Azam emphasised the enduring bond between him and Afridi, stating their assist for one another stays unwavering.
“I want to make clear that Shaheen [Afridi] and my bond is not recent, it goes back a long way. We support each other in every situation. Our aim is to put Pakistan first, and how to put Pakistan’s name up in lights. We don’t think of individual glory, and thankfully, those elements are not present in my team,” Babar mentioned as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Speaking forward of the primary T20I match in opposition to New Zealand, Azam reiterated the workforce’s unity and dedication to prioritizing Pakistan’s success over particular person accolades. He hinted at experimentation all through the five-game collection, with an eye fixed on optimizing the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“Our line-up is flexible. We’re trying to give opportunities to our young players and bench strength. You’ll see different combinations in this series and check what works for us. You’ll see that in the bowling as well as batting, and in every spot. By the time we get to the Ireland and England series, we’ll have a clearer picture,” he mentioned.
Azam expressed satisfaction with the squad’s mix of youth and expertise, emphasizing the significance of nurturing younger expertise and offering assist to newcomers adjusting to worldwide cricket. The collection begins in Rawalpindi on April 18, that includes each Pakistan and New Zealand squads.
“I am very happy when I see a new player getting selected for the Pakistan Cricket Team on the basis of domestic performance. So all the youngsters that come, we try to keep them in our wings. Because in international, whenever you come, you struggle a little. You need a little backing. It helps to have a senior player who can give you a little backing. And we always support all the senior players. We support them in everything,” mentioned the Pakistan captain.
