Shahid Afridi reacted strongly to Shadab Khan’s recent comments. The current all-rounder noted that former Pakistan players had never beaten India in World Cup matches. Shadab reminded everyone that his team had achieved this milestone by defeating India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.
After 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 be replaced with younger, more energetic players. However, Pakistan made a strong comeback under Salman Ali Agha by winning against Namibia by 102 runs, securing their spot in the Super 8s.
Shadab Khan had a standout performance against Namibia, contributing 35 runs and taking 3 wickets. Despite this, his comments during the post-match press conference faced criticism from several former cricketers in Pakistan.
Afridi pointed out that while Shadab and his teammates won against India in 2021, they struggled to handle the pressure that followed that significant victory.
“Shadab is correct that we never beat India in World Cups, but his team did. They gained respect from that win but faced difficulties afterward. By respect, I mean they had trouble managing internal issues after their victory over India. Shadab should also remember that when he wasn’t performing, we supported him publicly, calling him the backbone of the team,” Afridi said on Samaa TV.
“I know Shadab personally, and he has always been respectful towards us. During our playing days, we backed our words with action, not just against weaker teams but also against stronger ones,” he added.
Afridi mentioned that discussions about Shadab on national television would stop if he delivered strong performances on the field. He advised Shadab to step up in the crucial Super 8s matches against New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka.
“So Shadab, perform well. We supported you during tough times when you weren’t even playing domestic Cricket. If you want to respond to us, do it through your performance on the field. Show your skills, and once the World Cup concludes, we will cease our remarks,” he concluded.
