‘Drop Them’: Shahid Afridi Demands Axing of Shaheen, Babar After Humiliating Loss to India
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi delivered a blistering critique of the national team’s senior core following a crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup group stage. Speaking after the match at R. Premadasa Stadium, Afridi urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management to make difficult decisions, specifically calling for the exclusion of star players Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and his own son-in-law, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Afridi’s Ultimatum: Time for New Blood
The loss has left Pakistan in a precarious position in Group A, requiring a decisive victory against Namibia to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. Afridi, appearing on Samaa TV, argued that the senior players have exhausted their opportunities without delivering silverware or consistent performances in high-pressure games.
“Drop Shaheen, drop Shadab, and drop Babar. Try fresh faces against Namibia and give the new players a chance to build confidence,” Afridi stated. He emphasized that continuing to rely on the same failing combination is futile.
Key Comments from Shahid Afridi:
- On Seniority: “They’ve been playing for a long time. Whenever we expect them to perform, they don’t.”
- On Accountability: “If these senior players aren’t giving us the performances we desire, then play the juniors who are sitting on the bench. What is the difference?”
- On Shaheen Afridi: Despite family ties, Afridi insisted performance must dictate selection, calling for Shaheen to be benched alongside the others.
Match Recap: India Dominates in Colombo
Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian side adapted quickly to the conditions in Colombo, posting a challenging total that the Pakistan batting lineup failed to chase. The 61-run margin of defeat highlighted the disparity between the two sides on the day.
Match Summary
| Match Details | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Result | India won by 61 runs |
| Pakistan Captain | Salman Ali Agha |
| Next Fixture | Pakistan vs Namibia (Must-Win) |
Captain Salman Ali Agha Admits Execution Failure
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha faced the press after the match, admitting that the team’s reliance on spin backfired. While the spinners have been a strength for Pakistan over the last six months, they struggled to contain the Indian batters on a surface that Agha described as “tacky” in the first innings.
“We were believing in our spinners, and they had an off day today. Execution was missing in some parts of the game,” Salman explained during the post-match presentation. He also noted that the batting unit failed to recover after a poor start in the powerplay.
“With the batting, I think we didn’t start well, and in T20 games if you lose 3 or 4 wickets in the powerplay, you are always chasing the game,” he added.
Tactical Breakdown
Salman highlighted two critical failures:
- Bowling Adaptation: The bowlers failed to adjust to the grip and pace of the pitch during the first innings.
- Batting Application: The top order collapsed early, preventing the team from taking the game deep.
Pakistan now faces a do-or-die situation against Namibia. Based on Afridi’s comments and the heavy defeat, the management may be forced to rotate the squad significantly for the upcoming fixture.
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