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Shahid Afridi criticizes selection committee after Bangladesh series loss

Shahid Afridi

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has sharply criticized the national selection committee following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup and a 1-2 series defeat against Bangladesh.

In a statement shared on X, Afridi expressed concerns that the selection committee members, despite having played extensive cricket themselves, lack understanding of which players are suited to captain specific formats.

He highlighted that senior cricketers were dropped from the squad based on T20 performances, even in the one-day format. Afridi also criticized the inclusion of young players under the pretext of “surgery,” stating that leadership decisions appear to be made by the committee rather than the team itself.

Afridi further argued that some of the selected youngsters have played only a few first-class matches, and Pakistan’s domestic cricket standards are not consistently producing players ready to immediately join the national squad.

These comments came shortly after Pakistan’s recent defeat to Bangladesh in the one-day series, underlining Afridi’s call for more strategic and experience-based selection policies.

Shahid Afridi sees Shadab as future leader of Pakistan team

Shahid Afridi sees

KARACHI:  Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has said that Shadab Khan is likely to become captain if head coach Mike Hesson continues in his role.

Speaking on a private TV programme, Afridi noted that Shadab and Hesson have worked together for a considerable period at Islamabad United. “If the same coach remains, Shadab will be the captain,” Afridi remarked.

He added that Shadab is not a bad choice for leadership, especially given the limited captaincy options currently available. “Shadab Khan is the backbone of the Pakistan team. You can appoint him as captain, but he will have to deliver strong performances to silence critics,” Afridi said.

Meanwhile, former cricketer Ahmed Shehzad strongly criticised the team’s selection decisions. He claimed that spinner Sufiyan Muqeem has been sidelined to make room for Shadab in the playing XI.

Shehzad further alleged that even highly ranked spinner Abrar Ahmed was dropped to accommodate Shadab, arguing that there is a vast difference in performance levels between the players.

He concluded by blaming the coaching management for the team’s struggles, stating that internal selection dynamics are negatively impacting Pakistan’s performance.

ICC names Afridi among iconic performances in T20 World Cup history

ICC names Afridi

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its list of iconic performances in the history of T20 World Cups, featuring former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi among the legends of the tournament.

According to the ICC, Afridi’s outstanding all-round display in the 2009 T20 World Cup has been declared iconic.

 During the semi-final, Afridi scored 51 runs and took two crucial wickets, guiding Pakistan into the final. He then played a match-winning knock of 54 runs off 40 balls in the final, helping Pakistan clinch the title.

As per the list, Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over during the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup were also termed an iconic moment in cricket history.

The ICC further included Mike Hussey’s explosive 60 off 24 balls against Pakistan in the 2010 T20 World Cup among the memorable performances.

From the 2012 edition, West Indies spinner Sunil Narine’s figures of three wickets for just nine runs earned a place on the iconic list, while Rangana Herath’s five-wicket haul in the semi-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup was also recognized.

The list also highlights Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes in the final of the 2016 T20 World Cup, Mitchell Marsh’s 77-run innings in the 2021 World Cup final, and Ben Stokes’ match-winning 52 runs against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

In the most recent 2024 T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli’s brilliant 76-run innings has also been officially added by the ICC to the list of iconic performances.

Babar Azam breaks Shahid Afridi’s international catch record

Babar Azam

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has achieved yet another milestone, surpassing former star all-rounder Shahid Afridi to become the Pakistani player with the most catches in international matches.

Babar Azam reached this landmark during the final of the tri-nation T20 series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, where he took the catch of Kusal Mendis. In the final match, he took three catches, bringing his total to 170 international catches, surpassing Shahid Afridi’s 167.

In the all-time list, former captain Younis Khan remains at the top with 281 catches, followed by former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq with 194 catches. Shahid Afridi, who previously held the record, has now moved down the rankings.

Additionally, Babar Azam became Pakistan’s leading fielder in T20 internationals by taking three catches in the same final, bringing his total to 60 catches in T20s. He surpassed Fakhar Zaman, who has 57 catches, while Shoaib Malik holds the third spot with 50 catches.