Mohammad Rizwan likely to replace Shaheen Afridi as T20 captain

Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan is likely to replace star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as T20 format skipper of the national team, sources said on Wednesday.

According to the sources, the consideration to remove Lahore Qalandars' captain came after Shaheen's lackluster performance in leading his team in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine.

After the World Cup 2023, the Green Shirts played the first T20 series against New Zealand under the leadership of Shaheen Afridi and the event concluded with Pakistan’s defeat, 4-1, to Kiwis. 

Meanwhile, Lahore Qalanders had won the last two titles of PSL in Shaheen’s leadership but the team’s performance in the ninth edition seemed subpar, winning only one match and finishing at the bottom of the table. 

Sources said that the newly appointed PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been receiving suggestions about changing the captaincy.

"Some people within the cricket body believe that a 23-year-old left-handed fast bowler is too young to take these responsibilities," sources added.

However, many officials in the PCB have raised their voices against the continuous changes in the team's top slot, saying "it could negatively affect the performance of the national team in the upcoming T20 World Cup".

Sources further said that Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, ex-captain, are among the contenders to replace Shaheen as T20 skipper.

However, the final decision would be taken by the PCB chairman.