‘I asked him how he felt’ – Shaheen Afridi reveals conversation with Mohammad Rizwan before captaincy transition

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Source: Muhammad Sameer Ali/Getty Images)

Shaheen Shah Afridi has recently revealed the pathway through which he was made the 50-over team’s captain. The left-arm pacer replaced Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain on October 20. He was successful in his first bilateral series as full-time captain, helping Pakistan clinch the three-match assignment against South Africa.

Shaheen said that the decision was a mutual one in which only himself and the wicketkeeper-batter were involved. According to Shaheen, Rizwan was ready to surrender the duties.

“I took this responsibility from the Pakistan Cricket Board after discussing the matter with Rizwan. Rizwan was the only person I had a discussion with, and I asked him how he felt about me accepting the captaincy. Rizwan decided himself that he would make way for me and that is how things worked out,” stated Shaheen, as quoted by India Today.

Shaheen spoke on how the responsibility to perform and improve as a team was for all the members to shoulder and not a select few. He also clarified that Rizwan and others will be backed and given enough time to perform.

“Everyone has to take responsibility if you want to improve as a team. You can’t keep on saying Babar, Rizwan or Fakhar will do it, it is as a team and we have to click and take responsibility. As far as Rizwan is concerned, he is Pakistan’s top-scorer in one-dayers since 2023. We are trying to back players who are not in form so that they can do well in future matches,” he added.

Shaheen picked up three wickets in as many ODIs against the Proteas. Pakistan won the first and third ODIs by two wickets and seven wickets, respectively. The Green Shirts are currently playing the ODI series at home against Sri Lanka.

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