When Lahore Qalandars had announced Shaheen Shah Afridi few weeks back as their captain before the opening of Pakistan Super League’s seventh edition, most of the cricket experts had expressed doubt about Afridi’s ability to steer his team at this very young age. Their doubt was not unjust also. Afridi is just 21 and he is too young to be a leader, but he has proved everybody wrong with his innate leadership skill.  He looks like a born leader. I really appreciate Qalandars for having an eye for talent. The way he has been performing and managing his team is something incredible.  

The way he is interacting with his players and bowlers in the crucial overs of the match and making them cool and calm, shows the captain is made for the big stage.  Afridi is getting lots of praise from commentators also for showing his skill on the ground.  The way Lahore Qalandars beat Islamabad United by eight runs in the 12th match at the National Stadium in Karachi, on Saturday shows Afridi’s mental toughness and skill.

He almost snatched the match from the jaws of Islamabad United by defending only few runs. Haris Rauf did a brilliant spell, while a very young and inexperienced Zaman Khan bowled the last over brilliantly. If you look at the last over, you will see how the captain constantly kept encouraging the inexperienced Zaman, hence Zaman proved his worth by defending the runs. This clearly shows that Afridi with the passage of time will become a very good captain.

Shahnawaz Ahamed,
By email