Pakistan’s T20 World Cup flameout has former captain Shahid Afridi raging against Shadab Khan, whom he deems unfit for the team amid swirling captaincy rumors. ‘I wouldn’t keep him in the squad, forget captaincy,’ Afridi declared bluntly.
Super 8 elimination marks the fourth straight ICC semis miss, piling pressure on Salman Agha. With PCB eyeing changes, Shadab emerges as a candidate alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi, but the legend dismisses it outright on Sama TV.
Shadab’s tournament returns—seven games, 118 runs, five wickets—fell flat under Afridi’s gaze, especially with coach Mike Hesson’s persistent favoritism stemming from PSL days at Islamabad United. ‘Hesson coached him there, became Pakistan coach, and keeps giving chances. I predicted captaincy once, but now? Not even playing XI,’ Afridi explained.
Pakistan’s rollercoaster: victories over Netherlands (3 wkts), USA (32 runs), Namibia (102 runs), but India’s 61-run drubbing, rain-shared points vs Netherlands in Super 8, England’s 2-wkt win, and a mere 5-run triumph over Sri Lanka dashed semifinal hopes—needing 65 runs margin.
Agha’s leadership woes: fourth T20 skipper in 12 months, poor 60-run tally at 10 avg. Afridi calls for aggression, nominating Fakhar Zaman: ‘He’s the only one fitting the aggressive leader mold today.’
This controversy highlights deep rifts in Pakistan cricket. As stakeholders ponder overhauls before 2026, Afridi’s critique demands accountability, potentially reshaping the team’s aggressive ethos and leadership pipeline for future battles.