Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @safridiofficial
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi expressed strong dissatisfaction with the team’s recent performances, particularly following their losses to New Zealand in the first two T20Is. Speaking at a media event, Afridi took aim at both the players and the team management, addressing his concerns about the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) handling of the team and selection process.
Afridi was particularly frustrated with the approach taken towards the current batch of batters, pointing out that it seems as though everyone is trying to bat like him. “It looks like everyone wants to bat like Shahid Afridi, but you can’t score 200 in every match,” he stated.
He also criticized the selection choices, citing mismatches between the players and the roles they were chosen for. “They sent first-class players with just 10-11 matches of experience. Where spinners were needed, they picked pacers, and where pacers were needed, they picked extra spinners,” he added.
Afridi named players like Mohammad Hasnain and Usman Khan, who have shown great promise at the domestic level but have been consistently overlooked for national selection. “These players have been warming the bench for a long time, yet they are not being given chances. What’s the point of keeping them in the squad if they aren’t going to play?” he questioned.
Turning his attention to the PCB, Afridi criticized the board for its handling of the team’s results, especially after Pakistan’s early exits from both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy 2025. He expressed frustration with the constant changes in leadership within the board and the lack of consistency in decision-making. “The board needs a permanent chairman. Babar Azam was given ample opportunities as captain, but why was Mohammad Rizwan only given six months in the role?” he concluded.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
