Shaheen Shah says captain’s opinion in team selction is crucial

Pakistan’s ODI captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi, expressed delight over Pakistan’s historic victory against South Africa, describing it as the result of collective team effort.

Addressing a press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, Shaheen said it was a proud moment for the nation as Pakistan had won its first-ever home ODI series against South Africa.

He also underscored the importance of learning from mistakes to achieve continued improvement.

“The players know what areas need improvement, and we discuss our mistakes among ourselves,” he said.

Responding to questions about fielding lapses, the captain maintained that dropped catches were part of the game and never intentional.

“No one drops catches deliberately. Our fielding has improved significantly in recent times,” Shaheen added.

Shaheen Shah Afridi explains why Hasan Nawaz was excluded from the Sri Lanka ODI series and T20 tri-series.#TOKSports #ShaheenShahAfridi #HasanNawaz pic.twitter.com/iLhFRURAgO

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He emphasized that focus remained on all three departments,  batting, bowling, and fielding, and that every player must take responsibility for the team’s performance.

“It’s not just Rizwan, Babar, Fakhar, Saim, or myself — responsibility lies with everyone,” he remarked, while praising Mohammad Rizwan for being Pakistan’s top run-scorer in ODIs since 2023.
Shaheen also highlighted the importance of backing out-of-form players and building a stronger bench to handle injuries during major tournaments.

“In big events, injuries often impact us. That’s why we need depth. Everyone in the South Africa series squad will get opportunities,” he stated.

On the matter of team selection, the captain said that while the selection committee finalizes the 15-member squad, the captain’s input should also be considered.

Explaining the temporary release of batter Hasan Nawaz, Shaheen clarified that the player had been given time off to be with his family.

“Hasan wanted to spend time with his family after a long period. Releasing him doesn’t mean he’s out of plans. He will continue playing domestic cricket at his batting position,” he said.

When asked about his earlier removal from captaincy, Shaheen chose not to comment. However, he clarified that Rizwan had voluntarily stepped down from the leadership role.

“Rizwan is a great person. I consulted him before accepting the role, and he decided himself to step aside,” Shaheen revealed.
Expressing confidence in Babar Azam’s comeback, the captain added,

“Babar will return strongly with big performances and centuries.”
Shaheen concluded by saying that he takes advice from various senior players, not just former captains, to strengthen his leadership approach.