Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Afridi took a dig at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi after his comments regarding the Pakistan cricket team and their early exit from World Cup 2024. After Pakistan failed to make it to Super 8 stage, Naqvi criticised Babar Azam’s side and suggested an overhaul of the team saying it needs a “major surgery”. His comments added fuel to the fire resulting in team facing backlash from their former cricketers. The team has also been under immense scrutiny with their ex-cricketers demanding Babar should step down as captain once and for all.
Shaheen gives it back to PCB head
During a press interaction in London, Afridi gave back to the trolls and Naqvi as he said, “koi Beemar hai kya” (Is someone ill?) referring to (someone needs a surgery when someone is ill , why fix something that isn’t broken).
“I thought the team required minor surgery to start winning matches but now it appears that we have to go for major surgery. It is very disappointing the way we lost to the USA and now this loss to India. We need to now start looking at players beyond those in the team right now,” Naqvi had said last month.
He further questioned them saying, “Why the team is not performing is something everyone is asking. The World Cup is still on. But obviously, we will sit down and take a look at everything."
Babar Azam 's captaincy call-up a disaster
Naqvi took charge of PCB earlier this year and had faced a lot of criticism after he immediately sacked Shaheen as T20I captain and reinstated Babar Azam. Shaheen had just captained the team in one series, where they lost 4-1 to New Zealand.
Rift speculations during T20 World Cup 2024
Rumours of rift between the captain Babar and his premier pacer Afridi were the talk of the town during the T20 World Cup 2024. However, Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood quashed the rumours after Wasim Akram’s comments following loss against India.
"Wasim must have said that, but I don't know. I didn't see it. Shaheen and Babar are definitely talking, they are good friends. They are both part of the Pakistan team. We have not lost because of anyone, it is our mistake too," Mahmood said in a press conference last month.
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