Multan: Shaheen Afridi addresses captaincy reports ahead of 2027 ODI World Cup
Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has addressed ongoing speculation regarding his leadership role, stating, “For now, I am the captain.” These comments come amidst reports suggesting that former captain Babar Azam could potentially return to a larger leadership position across formats.
Afridi was appointed as Pakistan’s ODI captain in October 2025, succeeding Mohammad Rizwan. Despite this, the team’s leadership structure has seen frequent changes in recent years, leading to scrutiny over Afridi’s tenure. The left-arm pacer’s remarks were made during a press conference with captains of the National Champions Cup teams.
Focus on World Cup Preparations
Rather than dwelling on the uncertainty surrounding his captaincy, Afridi shifted his attention to the upcoming National Champions Cup, which is scheduled to run from August 11 to 18. He believes this domestic tournament, featuring Pakistan’s leading players, is crucial for building squad depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Afridi highlighted the importance of the tournament in mitigating potential injury issues that have affected the team in past World Cups. He noted that a robust player pool from the competition would provide readily available replacements if injuries occur before the major international event.
The captain also emphasised the significance of allowing players to perform in their preferred roles during the tournament. He stated that the competition would offer every player an opportunity to play according to their respective positions, which could directly influence Pakistan’s World Cup planning.
Performances and fitness levels of players in the National Champions Cup will be closely monitored. Afridi stressed that both individual performances and the overall fitness of other players would be assessed, with the ultimate focus remaining on the World Cup.
Captaincy Speculation and Denials
Speculation about Babar Azam reclaiming the white-ball captaincy has been categorically denied by selector Misbah-ul-Haq. He confirmed that there are no plans for such a move and that the issue has not been raised within the Pakistan camp. Misbah-ul-Haq dismissed these reports as rumours circulating on social media.
While Babar Azam was reinstated as the Test captain in July, replacing Shan Masood, this change has not extended to the white-ball formats. Babar led Pakistan to a 1-1 draw in a two-Test series against the West Indies, including an eight-wicket victory in the second Test, marking the team’s first away Test win in over three years.
The situation regarding Pakistan’s captaincy remains a topic of discussion, particularly with the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may need to provide further clarification on the leadership structure as the World Cup cycle draws nearer.
The National Champions Cup will begin at the Multan Cricket Stadium, featuring four teams: Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues, and Pakistan Gold. These teams will compete in a single round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final scheduled for August 18.
The trophy unveiling ceremony for the tournament was held earlier, attended by the captains of the four participating teams: Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan Gold, Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan Blues, Saim Ayub of Pakistan Whites, and Faheem Ashraf, who stood in for Pakistan Greens captain Shadab Khan.
Shaheen Afridi’s Pakistan Gold playing XI includes Abdul Samad, Abdul Subhan, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Nawaz, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Muhammad Imran, and Saad Khan.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
