The Pakistan cricket team dropped Shaheen Afridi for the second and final Test match against Bangladesh, sparking a series of questions from out-of-favour batter Ahmed Shehzad. While Afridi’s recent performance has been underwhelming, Shehzad questioned whether the young pacer should be solely blamed for the team’s struggles, especially after Pakistan’s recent 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh—Pakistan’s first defeat to Bangladesh in Test cricket.
In a video posted on X, Shehzad voiced his concerns, saying, “You lost to Zimbabwe, you lost to Ireland, you lost to the USA, you lost to India, and now you lost to Bangladesh. Is Shaheen Afridi the only one responsible for all of this?” He argued that singling out Afridi for the team’s poor form is unfair and called for accountability across the board. “Shaheen Afridi won’t be solely responsible for all of this. So, bring all those people who were involved in all of this. Tell this country. It is wrong to blame Shaheen Afridi alone. Yes, his performances are low, and his attitude might be an issue, and dropping him could be justified, but what about the rest of the players involved?” he asked.
Shehzad also raised questions about the performances of other team members, including Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, and captain Babar Azam. “What about Abdullah Shafique’s performance in the last eight Test matches? What about Saim Ayub’s performance after 25 matches? What about Babar Azam’s performance in the last 14 Test matches? Simply dropping players isn’t the solution; there won’t be any drastic changes or corrections to the team’s course without holding others accountable,” Shehzad added, emphasizing that a broader review of player performance and team management decisions is necessary for Pakistan to get back on track.
The controversy surrounding Afridi’s exclusion comes as Pakistan faces a tough period in Test cricket, having suffered defeats against lower-ranked teams in recent times. Shehzad’s comments reflect the growing frustration among former players and fans about the lack of consistent performance and strategic planning within the team. As rain washed out the first day’s play of the second Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, even preventing the toss from taking place, Pakistan will be hoping for a stronger showing in the series finale to restore some confidence and address the criticisms raised by figures like Shehzad.
Shehzad’s public critique serves as a reminder that while individual performance matters, cricket is a team sport, and the collective responsibility of players and management alike needs to be addressed to drive positive change.
