Shadab Khan has responded to severe criticism from Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf. The two former Pakistan cricketers had called for Shadab, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Shah Afridi to be dropped from the side after Pakistan lost to India in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Former Pakistan cricketers’ criticism
Shadab had bowled just one over against India, going for 17 runs. With the bat, the all-rounder managed just 14 (15). Meanwhile, Shaheen went for 31 runs in 2 overs, and Babar underwhelmed with a 5 (7) knock.
After India won by 61 runs, Yousuf took to X (formerly Twitter). “Time’s up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab. Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides. This is the darkest period in our cricketing history, and my heart bleeds for it. Incompetent individuals must be removed from office and from the team,” he wrote. “If it were up to me to make a decision, I would drop Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab. I would bench them all,” Afridi said on Samaa TV.
Shadab doesn’t have any issue with criticism. But the all-rounder feels he was unjustly criticised. His main skill is bowling, and he was given just one over against India. When he turned up against Namibia, he took a 3-fer.
“Criticism is something we can’t control. Every individual has his own opinion; they are free to have it,” Shadab told reporters in Colombo. “I feel that since I have made a comeback, I bowled one bad over, and because of that there is so much criticism. I don’t try to justify it; I can’t control these things. It was a bad day and a bad over. It’s T20 cricket; you can go for runs and take wickets as well. I don’t ponder too much about the criticism,” he added.
Legends without beating India
Shadab also pointed out that legends like Afridi, Yousuf, or even Wasim Akram never managed to beat India at a World Cup. Meanwhile, he, Babar, and Shaheen were part of the lone World Cup victory over India in 2021 in Dubai. No one doubts their performance or credentials despite never beating India.
“Our ex-cricketers have their own opinions. They have done well for Pakistan, and at the end of the day, they have also never defeated India in the World Cup. We were the ones who defeated India in the 2021 World Cup. In World Cups, we have beaten India only once. Yes, they are legends, but they have never done anything remarkable against India in the World Cup,” he said.
Winning World Cup, the goal
The all-rounder explained that Pakistan wants to win the T20 World Cup 2026. Of course, the Men in Green want to beat India, but the media and former cricketers can’t put their entire focus on one match. Winning the trophy matters, with or without beating India.
“We are talking too much about one match. Yes, the obvious goal was to win that match against India as well. At the end of the day, our main aim is to win the World Cup. We are trusting our process, and we will get the results,” Shadab concluded.
