Shahid Afridi opens up on Pakistan's sub-par T20 WC campaign, lauds Rohit Sharma for playing aggressive brand of cricket

The recent weeks have been tempestuous for the Pakistan team, particularly in light of their performance at the T20 World Cup 2024. Positioned in a group where advancement to the Super 8s was anticipated, early losses against co-hosts, the USA and arch-rivals, India, sealed their fate, despite subsequent victories over Canada and Ireland in their remaining two matches. If one perceived their elimination as severe, it was compounded by Babar enduring a below-par campaign both as captain and batter. His minor errors in field placements proved costly, while his strike rate of 101.66, accumulating 122 runs off 120 deliveries across four innings, fell massively short of expectations.

Former Pakistani skipper, Shahid Afridi, who had previously commented on Babar following Pakistan's elimination, revisited the topic with added weight and depth. Afridi emphasized the critical importance of leadership in cricket, highlighting how a captain's body language sets the tone for the entire team. Drawing comparisons to India's Rohit Sharma, who led his team to victory in the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup, Afridi pointed out Rohit's assertive batting style and on-field demeanor. He noted that Rohit's aggressive approach inspired confidence throughout the batting lineup, ensuring readiness to confront challenges with resilience and determination.

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"Look, the role of a leader is always very important. The body language of the leader becomes the body language of the team. The leader has to set an example. Take Rohit Sharma as an example. Now, look at his (Rohit's) game and his style of playing; the lower-order batsmen who come in are all confident because the captain likes to play aggressive and attacking cricket," stated Afridi, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The real issue lies at the grassroots level of our cricket: Afridi

There was a growing buzz surrounding potential revisions within the Pakistan Cricket Board, particularly regarding personnel changes and the redefined roles of key figures. Afridi expressed uncertainty about the specifics of the PCB's future plans but eagerly anticipated forthcoming adjustments. He emphasized the need for substantial and genuine reforms rather than trivial adjustments. Afridi also highlighted concerns about the overall quality of talent development at the grassroots level, advocating for increased investment in resources to cultivate skilled players capable of achieving greater success moving forward.

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"I don't know what the PCB chairman has in mind now, and I am also waiting to see what changes will be made, but I have always supported the team and will keep doing that. I am also waiting to see what these changes will be. A positive decision needs to be made, and the changes shouldn't just be superficial. The real issue lies at the grassroots level of our cricket. Our product is weak at the grassroots level, and if we invest there, good players will emerge," added the 47-year-old.