In a dramatic turn of events, fans took to social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction with Shaheen Shah Afridi’s captaincy after Pakistan’s poor performance in the first T20I against New Zealand. The match marked Afridi’s debut as the T20I skipper, taking over the reins from Babar Azam, who resigned after the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.
A journalist, eager to gauge the sentiment of cricket enthusiasts, posed the question of rating Afridi’s captaincy on a scale of 1 to 10. The responses flooded in, and the general consensus seemed to be a resounding disappointment, with many fans giving him a rating below 5. Some went as far as giving him a score of 0, 1, or 2. Mockery ensued, with fans not only criticizing Afridi’s leadership but also humorously questioning the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management for highlights of a victory that never materialized.
Pakistan’s shaky start under Afridi’s captaincy was evident in the first T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand. Opting to bowl first, Pakistan faced a daunting task as New Zealand posted a formidable total of 226/8. Kane Williamson’s 57 and Daryl Mitchell’s explosive 61 were the highlights of New Zealand’s innings.
Afridi himself struggled, picking three wickets at an economy of 11.50 in his four overs. The rest of the Pakistani bowling attack also faced challenges, with Aamir Jamal and Usama Mir going wicketless and conceding 55 and 51 runs, respectively.
When Pakistan came out to bat, Saim Ayub started aggressively with 27 off 8 balls, but his run-out marked the beginning of a downfall. Opening partner Mohammad Rizwan contributed 25 off 14, while former captain Babar Azam showed resilience with 57 off 35. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to deliver, and Pakistan collapsed at 180. Tim Southee shone for New Zealand, claiming four wickets for 25 runs. Adam Milne and Ben Sears took two wickets each, contributing to Pakistan’s defeat.
As the series progresses, all eyes will be on Shaheen Shah Afridi and his ability to lead the team to redemption in the upcoming T20Is. The social media backlash highlights the pressure on Afridi to prove his worth as the captain and silence the sceptics.
Also, see:
Adam Gilchrist reacts to his fake quote against Pakistan
