Shadab Khan Counters Afridi and Yousuf: ‘We Beat India in World Cups, You Didn’t’
COLOMBO – Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan issued a sharp rebuttal to former captains Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi on Monday, defending the current squad’s record against arch-rivals India. Following a decisive 102-run victory over Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Shadab addressed recent comments describing Pakistan cricket as being in its "darkest period," reminding the legends that the current generation achieved what previous eras could not: a World Cup victory against India.
The Verbal Volley: 2021 Record vs. Legends’ History
The exchange follows intense scrutiny after Pakistan’s recent loss to India, where wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan scored a rapid 77 off 40 balls. Former stars Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf publicly criticized the team’s performance, with Afridi calling for senior players to be benched. Shadab, however, pointed to the historic 10-wicket victory in Dubai during the 2021 T20 World Cup as a differentiator between the current team and their predecessors.
"Our ex-cricketers have their own opinions. They have done well for Pakistan, and at the end of the day, they have also never defeated India in the World Cup," Shadab said during the post-match press conference in Colombo. "We were the ones who defeated India in the 2021 World Cup. In World Cups, we have beaten India only once. Yes, they are legends, but they have never done anything remarkable against India in the World Cup."
Performance Data: Shadab Khan’s Turnaround
Shadab’s comments came after a Player of the Match performance against Namibia, which helped Pakistan secure a Super Eight berth. The all-rounder recovered from a poor outing against India to deliver with both bat and ball.
| Opponent | Runs Scored | Bowling Figures | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 14 | 0/17 (1 over) | Loss |
| Namibia | 36* (22 balls) | 3 Wickets | Win (102 runs) |
"I feel that since I have made a comeback, I bowled one bad over [against India], and because of that there is so much criticism," Shadab noted regarding his expensive over in the previous match. "It was a bad day and a bad over. It’s T20 cricket; you can go for runs and take wickets as well."
Legends Demand Accountability
The criticism from former players has been severe. Mohammad Yousuf, who resigned as batting coach in June 2025, described the current state of affairs as the "darkest period" in the nation’s cricketing history. Writing on social media, Yousuf argued that "incompetent individuals must be removed from office and from the team."
Shahid Afridi echoed these sentiments on Samaa TV, specifically naming the senior trio of Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan. "If it were up to me to make a decision, I would drop Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab. I would bench them all," Afridi said. "You lose matches. But nobody loses like this… I don’t recall us ever playing or losing in this specific way. We have lost, but we fought."
Super Eight Fixtures in Sri Lanka
Despite the off-field turbulence, the Pakistan squad, led by captain Salman Ali Agha, has advanced to the Super Eight stage. They will play their upcoming matches at two key venues in Sri Lanka.
- February 21: vs. New Zealand (R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo)
- February 24: vs. England (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy)
- February 28: vs. Sri Lanka (Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy)
"We are trusting our process, and we will get the results," Shadab concluded. "At the end of the day, our main aim is to win the World Cup."
For official tournament statistics and schedules, visit the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Detailed player records can be verified at ESPN Cricinfo.