Former Pakistan cricket team captain Shahid Afridi expressed strong disappointment over the team’s performance following their defeat to India in the ICC T20 World Cup and openly criticized the players and decision-making.
In Sunday’s crucial ICC T20 World Cup match, Pakistan suffered a comprehensive 61-run defeat against India. Batting first, India posted 175 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. In response to the 176-run target, the Pakistani team was bowled out for 114 runs in 18 overs.
Following the one-sided loss, fans and former cricketers have heavily criticized the national team, raising concerns about strategy and selection decisions.
Speaking to a private television channel, Shahid Afridi said that Pakistan made several mistakes during the match and admitted that India fully deserved the victory. He questioned the decisions of captain Salman Ali Agha, stating that some of them were difficult to understand. Afridi particularly asked why Usman Tariq, considered a key option for the team, was held back for 10 overs instead of being introduced earlier.
Afridi also criticized Shaheen Afridi’s bowling performance, saying that despite conceding runs in his first over, he was still given the final over, even though Faheem Ashraf was available as an alternative option.
He further stated that if the decision were in his hands, he would rest Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Babar and provide opportunities to new players in order to bring fresh energy into the squad.
The former captain added that senior players have been part of the team for a long time, and when expectations are high against major teams, they often fail to deliver the required performance. He suggested that new players should be given a chance in the upcoming match against Namibia to improve the team’s overall results.
