![Shahid Afridi accused Pakistan team captain of fraud [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772690850972_shahidafridiirfankhanniazi.jpg?type=hq)
Shahid Afridi accused Pakistan team captain of fraud [Source: X]
Legendary cricketer Shahid Afridi dropped a bombshell, as he accused one of Pakistan's active players of fraud. Recently, the Pakistan cricket team crashed out of the T20 World Cup after managing a solitary win in the Super 8 stage.
Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by five runs in their final Super 8 match. However, their marginal win wasn't enough to propel the Men in Green to the semifinals of the tournament.
Shahid Afridi opens up on Pakistan's next captaincy options
After the Pakistani cricket team failed to qualify for the T20 World Cup semifinals, captain Salman Ali Agha and head coach Mike Hesson faced widespread backlash for their leadership flaws.
In fact, fans and experts demanded an immediate change in the Pakistani think tank, as the Men in Green prepare for next year's ODI World Cup.
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also joined the bandwagon, calling for Salman Ali Agha's sacking and Farkhar Zaman's appointment as the new skipper of the T20I team.
Also read: Shahid Afridi Calls Out Mohsin Naqvi’s Cheapster Moves As Son-In-Law’s Pocket Gets Attacked
Besides namedropping Fakhar, Afridi also addressed a few other potential options, including Irfan Khan Niazi, who has already served as the captain of the Pakistan Shaheens.
Shahid Afridi suspects Irfan Khan Niazi of age fraud
During a Pakistani TV show, Shahid Afridi was asked whether he sees Irfan Khan Niazi as a potential option to replace Salman Ali Agha as Pakistan's new T20I captain.
Notably, Irfan Khan Niazi captained the Pakistan Shaheens in last year's Top End T20 tournament. He was also the skipper of the Pakistani side that clinched the Asia Cup Rising Stars title by defeating Bangladesh-A in a riveting face-off.
So, considering Irfan's impressive returns as the captain of the Shaheens, Afridi reckoned the PCB could rope him in as Salman Ali Agha's replacement. However, when the TV show anchor revealed Irfan Khan's age, Afridi was left shell-shocked on live TV.
The anchor checked Irfan Khan Niazi's age and told Shahid Afridi that the former is only 23 years old. The legendary Pakistani all-rounder couldn't believe it and instantly burst into laughter.
He further age-shamed Irfan and accused him of age fraud, saying, "If he is 23, then we are fine; we must be around 30–35."
The clip went viral on social media, sparking debates and discussions among the Pakistan cricket fanatics.
Irfan Khan Niazi's career on crossroads
Although Shahid Afridi acknowledged Irfan Khan Niazi's captaincy credentials, the dynamic cricketer doesn't seem to make a T20I comeback soon. Despite the Pakistan think tank giving him ample opportunities, Irfan couldn't live up to the hype, failing to replicate his domestic success at the international level.
Hailed for his ability to dispatch the cricket ball with brute power and sheer authority, the right-hander played 23 international matches, including 14 T20Is and nine ODIs. However, he could amass only 237 runs across formats at a modest average of 18.23.
Thus, with lots of batting talents emerging, it'll be a monumental task for Irfan Khan to make his way back into the Pakistan team unless he does something really extraordinary in the domestic circuit.
Also read: Misbah ul Haq Faces Fraudulent Allegations, Ahmed Shehzad Reveals Filthy Revenge
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