Shoaib Malik: “Babar Azam , Shaheen Afridi have no consistency in performances in ODI format in recent past”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has lashed out at batsman Babar Azam and left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi for having “no consistency” in ODIs as of late.
Azam has struggled to score runs for quite some time, while Afridi has not been at his best when it comes to taking wickets.
The duo recently featured in the 2025 Champions Trophy, with Azam scoring 87 runs in two matches, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
Afridi, meanwhile, finished with two wickets in two games at an average of 71.
“Babar Azam , Shaheen Afridi have no consistency in performances in ODI format in recent past,” Malik was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Following the Champions Trophy, Pakistan played a five-match T20I series against New Zealand and Afridi claimed two wickets in four matches at an average of 66.50.
As for Azam, he wasn’t included in the squad for the T20Is, which the men in green lost 4-1.
Pakistan and New Zealand are now facing each other in a three-match ODI series, which Azam was selected for but Afridi wasn’t.
In the 1st ODI in Napier, Azam struck 78 runs, but it was not enough to stop his side from losing by 73 runs.
The 2nd ODI will be held on April 2 in Hamilton.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir
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