Pakistan pacer, Shaheen Afridi, on Friday posted a cryptic message on his official Instagram account, after being abruptly relieved of his role as captain of the Pakistan cricket team in T20Is.

Afridi assumed the T20I captaincy following Babar Azam’s decision to step down from captaincy across all formats after Pakistan’s premature exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup. 

The left-arm fast bowler’s captaincy tenure commenced with a disappointing 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand on their home ground earlier this year. However, his leadership stint was cut short after just one series, with Babar Azam reinstated as the white-ball captain of Pakistan on March 31. 

According to sources, Afridi was unhappy with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) lack of communication regarding his removal from the captaincy position. The 23-year-old had also been upset by a statement, issued after his removal from the T20I captaincy, which contained words not authorized or spoken by him. The PCB acknowledged this error and conveyed to Afridi that it was an internal mistake. 

Afridi shared a cryptic Instagram story, which conveyed a sense of warning, indicating Afridi’s readiness to exhibit a side of himself that others might not have anticipated, should his patience be tested beyond its limit.

Shaheen’s story read: “Never ever ever put me in a position where I have to show you how cruel and ruthless I can be. Don’t test my patience. Because I might be the kindest and sweetest person you’ve ever met, but once I reach my limit, you’ll see me do the things that no one thought I was capable of doing.”

Despite feeling unjustly removed from the captaincy, Afridi has expressed his willingness to move forward from the ordeal.