Shahid Afridi 'surprised' by Babar Azam's return as Pakistan captain

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi took to social media to make a bold call about Babar Azam's return as captain of the Pakistan white-ball teams, saying he was surprised by the selection committee's decision.

PCB sacked Shaheen Afridi, the son-in-law of Shahid Afridi, and handed back the reins of the white-ball teams to Babar Azam, months ahead of the T20 World Cup.

The change in captaincy came after a change in the Pakistan Cricket Board administration as the new executive committee, led by Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi, brought back Babar Azam, who stepped down after Pakistan's poor showing the ODI World Cup last year.

Shaheen Afridi led Pakistan in only one series - a 4-1 defeat in a T20I series in New Zealand - after he was named as the T20I captain last year while Shan Masood took over the Test captaincy.

While Mohammad Rizwan was not in the reckoning for Pakistan T20I captaincy, Shahid Afridi said the wicketkeeper-batter was the best candidate lead Pakistan in the shortest format of the game.

"I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selection committee," Shahid Afridi said in his post in X, formerly Twitter.

"I still believe that if change was necessary than Rizwan was the best choice! But since now the decision has been made I offer my full support and best wishes to team Pakistan and Babar Azam," he added.