In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match played on Sunday, February 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, India defeated Pakistan by a huge margin of 61 runs. After Pakistan’s loss, there were many strong reactions, but the most explosive comments came from the former captain of Pakistan, Shahid Afridi. Afridi directly said for severe changes and said senior players must be dropped from the playing 11.
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Just after the match, he said that if he had the authority, he would drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah, and Shadab Khan from the next game. In addition, he was disappointed about their recent performances, mainly in high-class matches against strong teams like India. According to Shahid Afridi, all these senior players have been given enough chances and support, but they have failed to deliver when the team needed their experience most. Also, he advised the selectors that management must give chances to young players. He strongly believes that they can bring confidence, new energy, and fighting spirit to the squad.
He also said that if the senior-most players are not performing and utilising their experience, it’s crucial to take bold decisions for the betterment of the team in the future. His comment quickly went viral around social media, with many fans supporting his decision for change, while some felt that dropping players in the middle of a tournament can be tough.
Moreover, one of Pakistan’s legends, Mohammad Yousaf, also tweeted ” Time’up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab, Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against sides”. He also criticized senior players for failing to perform in a crucial match. In addition, he also suggested giving a chance to young players if seniors are not able to deliver better outcomes. With pressure mounting and legends openly asking for critical changes, Pakistan’s next move in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 can define not only their campaign but also the future decision of the team’s leadership and senior core.