Kia Shaheen Parwaaz Kar Pai Ga?
During the 2023 World Cup, Pakistan faced a challenging journey. A shaky beginning and a series of unfavorable outcomes led to their elimination in the league stage, securing a fifth-place finish in the standings.
In the aftermath of the tournament, significant changes unfolded within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management. Notably, Babar Azam relinquished his position as the all-format captain, with Shan Masood assuming leadership for red-ball cricket, while star fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took charge as the T20 captain.
Shaheen’s Record As Captain:
Although Shaheen Shah Afridi hasn’t captained Pakistan previously, the 23-year-old has held the leadership role for his Pakistan Super League (PSL) team, Lahore Qalandars, since 2022. Following Shaheen’s leadership, Lahore Qalandars secured victory in both PSL seasons, claiming titles in 2022 and 2023. Remarkably, these triumphs marked the franchise’s initial two championships after six trophy less seasons. Although the team’s success can’t be solely credited to Shaheen, it undeniably stands as an impressive achievement.
| Name | Matches | Wins | Loss |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 25 | 17 | 7 |
| Muhammad Rizwan | 36 | 24 | 12 |
| Sham Masood | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| Misbah ul Haq | 26 | 15 | 10 |
| Shahid Afridi | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Darren Sammy | 39 | 22 | 16 |
| Shadab Khan | 43 | 23 | 20 |
| Sohail Akhtar | 23 | 12 | 11 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 10 | 5 | 5 |
In terms of the win/loss ratio among PSL captains, Shaheen holds the top position. Boasting 17 wins in 25 matches, he has outperformed renowned captains like Darren Sammy, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Kumar Sangakkara.
However, as his skilled father-in-law remarked yesterday, leading Pakistan is no walk in the park. The question of whether he can replicate his performance with Lahore Qalandars under immense pressure is worth a billion dollars.
Kia Shaheen Parwaz Kar Paye ga … All attention is focused on Eden Park in Auckland.