Outgoing Pakistan T20I skipper Shaheen Afridi has posted a cryptic story on Instagram following his axing this week.
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The captaincy mess in Pakistan cricket has seen Shaheen, named the T20I captain in November 2023, being axed from his role after leading the team in just five games. Under a new chairman, the PCB reinstated Babar Azam as Pakistan’s white-ball skipper earlier this week, which has not gone down well with Shaheen, if reports are to be believed.
To make matters worse, he was credited with quotes that were apparently not his on the PCB website welcoming back Babar as captain. According to ESPNCricinfo, the board did not ask him for a statement but a press release had words from Shaheen, which pledged support to the returning skipper. The quick, reportedly disgruntled by the entire manner of his sacking, was further infuriated by the happenings.
Shaheen and Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, later met in Kakul and reached an uneasy truce, where the fast bowler, reportedly still aggrieved, agreed to put the episode behind him and move on.
On Thursday, Shaheen posted a 30-second clip of a lion on his Instagram story with the words: “Never ever put me in a position where I have to show you how cruel and ruthless I can be. Don’t test my patience. Because I might be the kindest and sweetest person you’ve ever met, but once I reach my limit, you’ll see me do the things that no one thought I was capable of doing.”
Babar’s captaincy stint will resume with a five-match T20I series at home against New Zealand followed by four T20Is in England before the T20 World Cup.
