Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi criticized spinner Shadab Khan saying that let alone a captain player is not even good enough to make the starting line-up of the Pakistan team. Afridi’s comments come amid rumors that Pakistan are set to sack Salman Agha as captain following their disastrous performance in the 2026 FIFA T20 World Cup.
Pakistan had a torrid spell at the global tournament and played cricket that looked dated. They lost to India and then to England, resulting in their elimination from the competition. Apart from the final match of the tournament against co-hosts Sri Lanka, Pakistan have failed to bat at a positive pace. Reacting to rumors of Shadab taking over as team captain, Afridi said the leg-spinner was not good enough to make the team.
“Looking at his performance, I wouldn’t even keep him in the team let alone give him the captaincy,” the former all-rounder told Samaa TV.
Shadab’s performance on the pitches in Sri Lanka has come under scrutiny. He scored 118 runs and took five wickets in seven matches. Against India, Shadab mishit Ishan Kishan which led to the Men in Green being heavily punished by their arch-rivals.
“The head coach is giving Shadab chance after chance. That’s why I said Shadab can become the next Pakistan captain. But if I look at his recent performances, he doesn’t even deserve a place in the playing eleven,” Afridi said.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to impose a massive financial penalty on the national team following their disappointing exit from the 2026 FIFA T20 World Cup. According to a report by The Express Tribune, each member of the team is to be fined PKR 5 million (approximately Rs 16 million) for failing to meet performance expectations.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
02 March 2026 22:00 IST
