Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has criticised the national team’s selection for the ongoing five-match T20I series, questioning the squad’s composition and strategy.
Speaking at an event, he blamed the selection committee for picking inexperienced first-class players and selecting pacers instead of spinners in spin-friendly conditions.
“They chose first-class players with just 10–11 matches of experience. Where spinners were needed, they included pacers or extra spinners,” he said.
Afridi also questioned batting coach Mohammad Yousuf’s role in teaching players how to handle off-spin, arguing that such skills should be developed before reaching the national team.
“This isn’t something players should still be learning at this level,” he added.
He stressed the need for workload management, especially for key players like Babar Azam, and urged a structured rotation system.
“Players need rest, whether it’s Babar Azam or anyone else,” he said.
Afridi criticised the lack of opportunities for Mohammad Hasnain and Usman Khan, stating that both had waited too long for a chance.
“Usman Khan and Mohammad Hasnain deserve to play. They’ve spent too much time on the bench,” he said.
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He also pointed out issue with the team’s batting approach, suggesting that players were trying to copy his aggressive style.
“Everyone seems to be playing like Shahid Afridi. You can’t aim for 200 runs in every match,” he said.
Afridi called for stability in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and demanded a permanent chairman. He also questioned why Babar Azam had a long tenure as captain while Mohammad Rizwan lost the role after just six months.
“The board needs a permanent chairman. Babar Azam got plenty of chances as captain, but why did Mohammad Rizwan get only six months?” Afridi asked.
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