Overview:
Shadab Khan delivered a match-winning all-round performance against Namibia, scoring 35 and taking 3 wickets.
Shahid Afridi responded sharply to Shadab Khan‘s comments, after the current the all-rounder claimed that former Pakistan players, despite their best efforts, had never overcome India in World Cup matches. Shadab reminded everyone that he was part of the squad that handed India their first-ever World Cup defeat in 2021 during the T20 World Cup in Dubai.
Following Pakistan’s loss to India in the 2026 T20 World Cup, Afridi and Yousuf suggested that players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan should be replaced with younger and more dynamic players. Pakistan, however, responded in remarkable fashion under Salman Ali Agha, crushing Namibia by 102 runs to seal their place in the Super 8s.
Shadab Khan delivered a match-winning all-round performance against Namibia, scoring 35 and taking 3 wickets. However, his remarks at the post-match press conference have sparked backlash in Pakistan, with several former cricketers voicing their criticism.
Afridi pointed out that while Shadab and the Pakistan team managed to defeat India in the 2021 T20 World Cup, they were unable to cope with the pressure and expectations that followed such a historic win.
“Shadab was right on when he mentioned that we never beat India in World Cups, but his team did. They earned respect after that victory, but they couldn’t manage the pressure that came with it. By respect, I mean that after their win over India, they struggled to handle the internal issues. Shadab should also remember that when he wasn’t performing, we backed him on national television, calling him the backbone of the team,” Afridi stated on Samaa TV.
“I know Shadab, and he’s a great guy. He’s always shown respect towards us. During our playing days, when people spoke about us, we backed up our words with actions on the field. It wasn’t just against the smaller teams and we delivered performances against the bigger teams as well,” he added.
Afridi added that the former players would stop discussing Shadab on national television if he backed up his talk with strong performances on the field. He advised the all-rounder to step up in the crucial Super 8s matches against New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.
“So Shadab beta, aap bhi performance kariye. Beta performances karo. We supported you during your tough times when you didn’t even play domestic cricket. If you want to respond to us, do it by showing your skills on the field. Perform, and once the World Cup is over, we will stop talking,” he concluded.