Pakistan’s Shadab Khan (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes Shadab Khan is the front-runner to take over as coach of the national team if Mike Hesson continues as head coach. With Pakistan’s 2026 T20 World Cup campaign hanging in the balance, discussions have already intensified over who could replace current skipper Salman Ali Agha.
Many experts in Pakistan feel that Agha’s position is threatened after the team’s disappointing performance in the tournament.Pakistan received a timely boost when England beat New Zealand by four wickets in Colombo on Friday, keeping their semi-final hopes alive. To advance, Agha’s men must defeat Sri Lanka in Pallekele by 65 runs or chase down the target with 40 balls remaining to overtake New Zealand in net run rate.
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Ahead of that crucial match, Afridi cited the strong working relationship between Shadab and Hesson, built during their time together at Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, as a crucial factor.“If Mike Hesson stays as coach, I think Shadab Khan will become the captain. They have a connection and they go back a long time, stemming from their time with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. Shadab is not a bad option, but if he had performed better as a footballer, it would have been great,” Afridi said on Samaa.TV.“We need Shadab to deliver consistent performances. If that happens, we will also feel good about naming him captain.
I always said he was the backbone of the team. I think Shadab will become the captain because they don’t have any other option. “Make him the leader, but he must be a performer,” he added.Interestingly, after Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India earlier in the tournament, Afridi urged the team management to leave Shadab out of the field due to his struggles with the bat and ball.Shadab later responded sharply to criticism from several former players, including Afridi.
After an all-round display against Namibia, he claimed that his current team is capable of defeating India in the World Cup, something he said former players cannot boast of. These statements sparked significant backlash, and he faced severe criticism from multiple quarters.Afridi is not alone in anticipating a change in leadership. Earlier, Shoaib Malik had also indicated that Shadab’s rise might already be underway.“Shadab’s name has started to spread as far as the captaincy is concerned,” Malik told ARY News.Currently, Pakistan are yet to register a win in the Super 8 stage. Their encounter against New Zealand was cancelled, while they suffered a narrow defeat to England, leaving their semi-final fate dependent on a dramatic turnaround.