‘Captain? Won’t even keep him in the team’ – Shahid Afridi lashes out at Pakistan player after T20 World Cup debacle

Shahid Afridi (Source: Star sports)

Shahid Afridi lashed out at spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan, saying that he doesn’t deserve a place in the side after his abysmal performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, let alone becoming the next captain.

Pakistan had a forgettable time in the 2026 T20 World Cup. While they were ousted in the group stage in the previous edition in 2024, this time, they did make it to the Super 8. However, they failed to progress to the knockouts after losing to England. Earlier in the campaign, they suffered a comprehensive defeat to arch-rivals India.

Pakistan were expected to perform much better, especially with the T20 World Cup being played in the sub-continent. However, the brand of cricket that the Men in Green were playing seemed outdated. They had to beat Sri Lanka by a huge margin in their last game in the Super 8 to make the semi-final. However, the insipid performance from the middle-order batters disappointed their fans.

“Looking at his performance, I wouldn’t even keep him in the team, let alone give him the captaincy,” the former all-rounder said on Samaa TV while reacting to reports of Shadab taking over from Salman Ali Agha as captain of Pakistan’s T20 side.

“The head coach is giving Shadab chance after chance. That’s why I said Shadab can become the next Pakistan captain. But looking at his recent performances, he doesn’t even deserve a place in the playing XI,” Afridi said.

Shadab played six matches in the T20 World Cup. He managed to score just 118 runs at an average of 23.60 and a strike rate of 153.25. Meanwhile, with the ball, he accounted for just five wickets at an average of 30.40 and an economy rate of 8.44.

The only silver lining from Pakistan’s campaign in the T20 World Cup would be Sahibzada Farhan’s performance with the bat. The opening batter amassed 383 runs in six innings at an average of 76.60 and a strike rate of 160.26. He is the leading run-getter in the tournament.

Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.