Shahid Afridi: “Son, give performances. In tough times, we stood by you. You didn’t play aggressive cricket, yet you still made it back into the Pakistan team. Now respond with performances so that we also become silent”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has urged spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan to start performing consistently so that he can silence his critics.
Afridi noted that he stood by Shadab during his difficult phases, but wants him to deliver strong performances to avoid further criticism.
During the recent three-match ODI series against Australia, the 27-year-old struggled with the ball, taking two wickets at an average of 69. However, he impressed with the bat, scoring 100 runs, which included a top score of 71, at an average of 100.
“Son, give performances. In tough times, we stood by you. You didn’t play aggressive cricket, yet you still made it back into the Pakistan team. Now respond with performances so that we also become silent,” Afridi said on Samaa TV as quoted by NDTV.
Pakistan will now face the West Indies in a two-Test series in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
They will then tour England for three Tests, which will be held between August 19 and September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah