Afridi Wants Shadab to Respond Through Performance

An India–Pakistan match was once a symbol of intense excitement. However, due to political tensions, bilateral series between the two countries have been suspended for nearly one and a half decades. Now, the two teams only meet in regional or global tournaments. On this stage, recent times have clearly shown India’s dominance.

This trend continued in the ongoing T20 World Cup. In response to India’s 175 runs, Pakistan was bundled out for just 114, handing India a big 61-run victory and maintaining their winning streak. The dismal performance in such a high-profile match disappointed Pakistan’s former star cricketers.

Former captain Shahid Afridi was vocal in his criticism. At the time, Afridi said, “If I had the chance to make decisions, I would have rested Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab. I would have given the new players a chance and built their confidence. What’s the point of giving the same players repeated chances if they don’t perform in big matches?”

Current all-rounder Shadab Khan responded to Afridi’s remarks, sparking discussion and debate.

In an interview with Sama TV, Afridi said, “Shadab is absolutely right that we couldn’t beat India in the World Cup. Their team has lost once. After losing, they gained respect. But they couldn’t maintain it. After defeating India, they couldn’t manage their internal issues. Shadab should also remember that when he couldn’t perform for the team, we publicly stood by him on national television and said that this guy is the backbone of the team.”

He added, “I know Shadab very well. He’s a good kid. He always speaks to us respectfully. In our time, when people criticized us, we responded through performance—against big teams, not small ones.”

Finally, Afridi sent a direct message to Shadab: “So Shadab, beta, you also show your performance! Perform and prove yourself! We stood by you during your tough times. Even without playing domestic cricket, you made it to the national team. If you want to answer us, do it on the field through performance. End the World Cup with your performance, and we will stay silent.”

Overall, after the heavy loss to India, the pressure on the Pakistan team has increased, as has the volume of criticism. However, according to Afridi, the only way to respond to this criticism is through performance on the field.