Pakistan’s chief selector Shahid Afridi made a big change for this series by appointing Shan Masood as the vice-captain, on which many questions were raised.
Image Credit source: Twitter/PCB
Bawal and Pakistan cricket team have an unbreakable relationship. Often, before some tournament or series, the Pakistan cricket team or board remains in the news for some reason or the other. There have been a lot of controversies in the last few weeks. After the Test series against New Zealand, now the ODI series is becoming its center where interim chief selector Shahid Afridi surprised everyone by making Shan Masood the vice-captain in the ODI team. Questions were already being raised on this decision as there were questions about Masood’s place in the playing XI. Now even Captain Babar Azam himself refused to confirm it.
On January 6, chief selector Shahid Afridi announced the squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The biggest news in this announcement was the absence of the team’s vice-captain Shadab Khan, who could not be a part of this series due to injury. Then the very next day the news came that Shan Masood, who is returning to the team, has been made the vice-captain. This surprised everyone. According to reports, Captain Babar Azam himself was not aware of this.
In such a situation, on Sunday, a day before the ODI series starting on January 9, Babar Azam was questioned about the place of Shan Masood in the press conference in Karachi. A journalist asked Babar whether vice-captain Shan Masood would feature in the playing XI of the first match. Generally, any vice-captain gets a place in the playing eleven, but Babar Azam did not give a direct answer instead of agreeing to it.
Babar said, can’t talk on one person right now, be it the vice-captain or anyone whether he will be a part of the playing XI. Will discuss on this now. I haven’t even seen the wicket yet. Will try to play the best XI and try to win the series.
Will Babar be captained?
After failing to win the Test series, Babar Azam will look to make up for it in the ODI series. After continuous failure in Test cricket, questions are constantly being raised on Babar’s captaincy. It is believed that the change in vice-captaincy is also an indication for Babar that his captaincy is not completely secure.