Great Pakistani Shahid Afridi does not like leg-spinner Shadab Khan’s choice for the next visit of New Zealand. Afridi thinks there is no basis other than perhaps domestic displays for his return to be justified, so he says it’s decisions like this that have put Pakistan cricket in the “ICU.”
Shadab Khan last appeared for Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados and the United States, where the team had one of their worst ICC events exit. He was, however, summoned back to the T20I team soon after the 2025 Champions Trophy at home and promoted vice-captain. Even as the T20 captain, Mohammad Rizwan, who headed the Champions Trophy, has now been fired.
“Shahid remarked at a press conversation, as quoted by PTI: &what basis was he called back? What are his showings in local cricket or otherwise that he have been picked once more; We talk about operations all of the time we discuss preparations and after an event sets in we collapse. The truth is that wrong decisions have put Pakistan cricket in ICU.
Moreover, he was annoyed by the fact that every time there is a change of guard at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the new chairman alters everything from captains to coaches to officials.
“The Board’s rulings and policies lack continuity or consistency. Formerly the captain wondered, “We keep changing board members, coaches, or some players but ultimately, what is the responsibility for Board officials, “. How might our cricket advance if the captain and coaches’ heads are always under sword?
Afridi had earlier said also that a talk with chairman Mohsin Naqvi informed him that the man knew very little about cricket. Afridi had advised Naqvi to surround himself with superior cricketing intelligence that could assist him.
Pakistan squad for New Zealand series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Omair Bin Yousaf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Khan
