Rawalpindi, October 17,2026: Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has backed former skipper Babar Azam as the “backbone” of the team, insisting that the squad is united in its mission to win the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Speaking at a pre-series press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Shaheen said Pakistan’s collective focus was on preparing for next year’s tournament, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“We are united as a team and our collective focus is towards winning the World Cup and how we can do it,” Shaheen told reporters.
He urged the media to portray the team as a united group, saying the players shared mutual respect and were committed to playing good cricket.
“It is just a game. If you portray it to the people, kids in a way that is too serious, they will be worried about why we are not winning,” he said.
Shaheen was particularly emphatic in his support for Babar, who previously replaced him as Pakistan’s T20 captain in 2024 before eventually making way for Salman Ali Agha.
“There is no pressure on Babar, he is our main player,” said the 26-year-old. “He is the backbone of this team. He has performed well over the past few home series.”
Shaheen’s leadership comes after several changes in Pakistan’s captaincy over recent years. Appointed ODI captain 12 months ago, he is expected to lead the side through to the 2027 World Cup, with the Pakistan Cricket Board appearing committed to giving him an extended run in the role.
He took over the ODI captaincy from Mohammad Rizwan, while Babar remains a key figure in the batting lineup.
Under Shaheen, Pakistan have won all their home ODI series over the past year as the team management works to build a combination suited to next year’s World Cup.
Most of those assignments were played on slower, spin-friendly pitches, including the recent series against Australia in May and June. The conditions for the upcoming ODI tri-series, however, are expected to offer a different challenge, with pitches being prepared to resemble those in South Africa.
Shaheen confirmed that the team had deliberately worked towards preparing surfaces offering greater pace, bounce and lateral movement.
“Over the course of the last four one-day series, we have tried to build this team, since our focus is on [next year’s] World Cup and how we can prepare for it,” he said. “Henceforth we have also tried to prepare the wickets accordingly.”
Pakistan are also scheduled to play a five-match ODI series in England before beginning their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on October 8, 2027.
“We want our fast bowlers to get help [off the surface] so when we play in South Africa and in England, both our bowling and our batting has the potential to get the other team out and chase the runs [respectively],” Shaheen said.
The expected playing conditions could influence Pakistan’s team combination, with Shaheen indicating that the side might field three or four fast bowlers.
That would increase the importance of opener-turned-all-rounder Saim Ayub’s contribution with the ball, despite his recent struggles in T20 and Test cricket.
“Saim Ayub may have struggled in T20 cricket, he struggled in the Test match as well,” Shaheen said. “But as far as one-day cricket is concerned, we really need him.”
He added that Ayub’s bowling could prove crucial if Pakistan opted for an attack featuring three or four specialist pacers.
“If we keep giving him opportunities, he will thrive for Pakistan,” Shaheen said.
Pakistan will open their ODI tri-series campaign against Sri Lanka on Sunday before facing England on October 20 and 25. They will meet Sri Lanka again on October 27, with the final scheduled for October 31.
The series will provide Pakistan with an important opportunity to assess their combinations and build momentum as preparations intensify for the 2027 World Cup.
