Shahid Afridi Urges Dropping Babar, Shaheen and Shadab After Pakistan’s Defeat to India

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has called for major changes in the national team following Pakistan’s heavy defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026 match in Colombo, urging selectors to drop senior players Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan after what he termed a humiliating performance.

The high-profile Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup clash was played at R. Premadasa Stadium, where India secured a dominant victory to extend their strong World Cup record against Pakistan. Powered by a blistering 77-run knock from Ishan Kishan, India posted 175-7 despite Pakistan’s spin attack attempting to slow the scoring rate after the early breakthroughs. In response, Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed under pressure and were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, handing India a comprehensive win.

The result further highlighted Pakistan’s struggles against India in ICC tournaments. India have now won eight out of nine meetings in the T20 World Cup and remain unbeaten against Pakistan in ODI World Cup history, underlining a long-standing dominance in global events.

Reacting strongly to the defeat, Shahid Afridi questioned the performance and accountability of senior players, stating that experienced cricketers are expected to deliver in high-pressure matches. He emphasized that long-serving players must justify their place in the team with match-winning contributions, especially in marquee fixtures like the Pakistan vs India World Cup encounter.

Afridi argued that if senior members fail to perform consistently, the team management should consider giving opportunities to young and emerging cricketers to build bench strength and ensure long-term development of Pakistan cricket. He suggested that fresh talent should have been fielded in the upcoming match against Namibia to gain valuable international exposure and strengthen squad depth.

His remarks have reignited debate around team selection, leadership accountability, and the future direction of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign, as fans and analysts assess the team’s performance and strategy in major ICC tournaments.