Shahid Afridi: “Shaheen, Shadab, Rizwan, Babar, or any other player who is not performing should return to domestic cricket, perform well there and then they can rejoin the Pakistan team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Renowned Pakistan six-hitter Shahid Afridi believes left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi, spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan, and the batting duo of Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam should be made to return to domestic cricket if they fail to perform for the national team.
Shahid noted that this rule should apply to all players and doesn’t want the top stars to be protected.
Questions have been raised about Shaheen, Shadab, Rizwan and Azam’s form lately, but even if they were to be sent back to domestic cricket, Shahid made it clear that they should return to the Pakistan team if they do well.
“Shaheen, Shadab, Rizwan, Babar, or any other player who is not performing should return to domestic cricket, perform well there and then they can rejoin the Pakistan team,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During Pakistan’s recent tour of New Zealand, Shaheen and Shadab only featured in the five-match T20I series, while Azam and Rizwan were just selected for the three ODIs.
After this, Shaheen captained the Lahore Qalandars to the title in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), while Shadab, Rizwan and Azam led Islamabad United, the Multan Sultans, and the Peshawar Zalmi respectively.
Pakistan are now facing Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, but Shaheen, Rizwan and Azam were all left out of the squad.
Shadab, who is Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain, made the cut and was named Man of the Match in the 1st T20I as he smashed a quickfire 48 while also taking two wickets.
Pakistan won the 1st T20I by 37 runs and will look to complete a series win in the 2nd T20I, which will take place in Lahore on May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper) and Saim Ayub
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