Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has openly expressed his frustration over the squad selection for the ongoing five-match T20I series against New Zealand, raising several concerns about the team’s composition and management.
Speaking at a recent media event, Afridi highlighted what he sees as a lack of experience in the current lineup and criticized the selectors for choosing pacers in conditions that call for spinners.
“They sent first-class players with just 10-11 matches experience. Where spinners were needed, they picked pacers or extra spinners,” Shahid Afridi said.
He also took aim at batting coach Mohammad Yousuf for teaching techniques he believes are inappropriate at the national level. “This isn’t something that should be taught at the Pakistan team level,” he added.
Shahid Afridi further lamented the missed opportunities for emerging talents such as pacer Mohammad Hasnain and wicketkeeper batter Usman Khan, who have long been sidelined. “Usman Khan and Mohammad Hasnain are not being given opportunities. They have been warming the bench for a long time,” he stated.
Not holding back on his critique of the national team’s batting strategy, Afridi observed that many players are trying to emulate his style—a tactic he deems unsustainable. “Everyone seems to be trying to play like Shahid Afridi. You can’t score 200 in every match,” he said.
While Shahid Afridi’s candid remarks have sparked further debate over the direction of Pakistan cricket, senior team members have already outlined a pathway to get the team back on track. As the bilateral series serve as testing grounds, Pakistan would be wise to shore up its strategy ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup and the T20I World Cup next year.
