Shahid Afridi Fires Back at Shadab Khan's World Cup Remarks
Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has issued a sharp retort to all-rounder Shadab Khan following his post-match comments, emphasizing the difficulties of managing success in international cricket. Afridi pointed out that while past Pakistani teams struggled to secure victories against India in World Cup matches, Shadab's squad achieved this milestone in the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Background of the Controversy
After Pakistan's commanding 102-run win over Namibia in Colombo during the Group A match of the 2026 T20 World Cup, the 27-year-old Shadab was questioned by the media about criticism from former stars like Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf. In his response, Shadab highlighted his involvement in the team that defeated India in the 2021 World Cup held in Dubai.
This exchange comes in the wake of Pakistan's earlier defeat to India on February 15 in the tournament, which led Afridi and Yousuf to suggest dropping key players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab to make way for younger talent. However, under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan staged a strong comeback against Namibia, securing their place in the Super 8s stage.
Shadab's Performance and Afridi's Reaction
In the match against Namibia, Shadab delivered an impressive all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 35 runs and taking three wickets. Despite this near-perfect display, his remarks at the post-match press conference have drawn criticism from former players.
Afridi addressed the situation, stating: "Shadab was absolutely right when he said that we didn't beat India in the World Cups, but his side did. They earned respect after that victory, but they couldn't handle it. By respect, I mean that after defeating India, they failed to manage the internal issues within the team. Shadab should also remember that when he was underperforming, we supported him publicly, calling him the backbone of the team."
He added: "I know Shadab is a very good person who has always shown us respect. During our playing days, when people criticized us, we always backed up our words with actions on the field, especially against top-tier teams, not just smaller ones."
Call for Performance Over Words
The former captain urged Shadab to let his on-field performance do the talking during the upcoming Super 8s matches against New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka. Afridi emphasized: "So Shadab, my son, you should focus on performing. We stood by you during tough times; you didn't play domestic cricket yet still made it to the national team. If you want to respond to us, do it through your performance on the field. Play well, let the World Cup conclude, and then we will quiet down."
Pakistan is set to begin their Super 8s campaign on Saturday against New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The team's progress will be closely watched as they aim to build on their recent success and address the ongoing discussions about player performance and team dynamics.
