I have never played my cricket for captaincy: Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan's star pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi recently made headlines with his statements about captaincy and his commitment to the national team. The discussion around Afridi's captaincy aspirations comes after recent changes in Pakistan's leadership structure. 

Following the team's disappointing exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Babar Azam stepped down from his role as captain. This led to Afridi's brief appointment as T20I skipper, where he led the team in a five-match series against New Zealand, resulting in a 1-4 loss. Afridi's perspective on leadership roles reflects a mature and team-oriented mindset.  

"Pakistan is first and foremost for me, then it's the team, and I come after that. I don't like to think about the past," Afridi said as quoted by Times of India.

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Want to play cricket for Pakistan and I will do that with dignity: Shaheen Afridi

The young pacer's approach to his career is rooted in the present. The left-arm seamer focuses on current performance and continuous improvement aligns with his goal of consistent contribution to the team's success.

"My job is to be in the present, and I don't think about the future. If your present is good, you can be well-prepared for the future. Captaincy is not in my hands, and I have never played my cricket for captaincy. I want to play cricket for Pakistan and I will do that with dignity," he added.

 Afridi's leadership opportunity was short-lived due to his brief stint as T20I captain. Azam was reinstated as Pakistan's white-ball captain ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. However, this change in leadership doesn't seem to have affected Afridi's commitment or focus on his role in the team.