Lahore Qalandars’ dismal performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 9) has been nothing short of disappointing, landing them at the bottom of the points table. With just one win against Islamabad United and a free point handed to them due to rain, their campaign has been marred by consecutive losses and a glaring lack of cohesion on the field.
Amidst this chaos, one figure that has come under scrutiny is Shaheen Shah Afridi, the fast-bowling sensation who was entrusted with the captaincy role for the T20I side after Babar Azam stepped down post-World Cup 2023.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, hailed as one of Pakistan’s premier bowlers, had a shaky start to his tenure as captain, both at the international level and within the Lahore Qalandars camp this year. Despite his previous successes, including leading the Qalandars to two PSL titles, Afridi’s recent stint as captain has been far from impressive.
His individual performance on the field during PSL 2024 has been underwhelming, with the left-arm pacer struggling to contain runs and failing to provide the leadership needed to inspire his team to victory. Although he managed 14 wickets from 10 games, conceding over 300 runs has raised questions over his potential.
Furthermore, Afridi’s T20I captaincy debut saw Pakistan suffer a humbling defeat against New Zealand, losing the series 4-1. This early setback cast doubts on Afridi’s ability to lead the team effectively, raising questions about his suitability for the role.
While Afridi’s prowess with the ball cannot be denied, his transition into a leadership role has been marred by poor decision-making and a lack of strategic acumen, evident in Lahore Qalandars’ lackluster performance in PSL 2024.
The disparity between Afridi’s past successes and his recent struggles as captain highlights the challenges of leadership in cricket, where individual brilliance on the field does not always translate into effective leadership off it.
As Qalandars grapple with their early exit from PSL 2024, the scrutiny on Shaheen Shah Afridi’s captaincy only intensifies, underscoring the need for introspection and potential changes in leadership dynamics for both the franchise and the national team.
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