Misbah Criticizes Handling of Pakistan Cricket Captaincy Shake-Up

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq recently shared his thoughts on the recent changes in leadership within the national cricket team.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Misbah expressed his concerns regarding the process of removing both Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi from captaincy, stating that it was not handled correctly.

Misbah emphasized that the manner in which Babar and Shaheen were stripped of their captaincy roles could have negative effects on the players and the team as a whole.

He described both Babar and Shaheen as star players and extended his best wishes to them and the team, hoping for their success in the future.

Last month, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced Babar Azam as the new white-ball captain, citing strategic reasons aimed at ensuring player well-being and optimal performance.

Regarding Shaheen Afridi, the PCB explained that the decision to rotate and rest him was essential to maintain his peak performance and prevent injuries, especially considering the workload management needed for fast bowlers.

The PCB’s decision to change the leadership was also motivated by the desire to safeguard the longevity of players, particularly fast bowlers, following past instances of injury concerns before major tournaments like the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023.

In the previous year, Shaheen Afridi had taken over the captaincy from Babar Azam in T20I cricket, while also replacing Shan Masood in Test matches.