Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has expressed his fury over the inconsistent bowling performances of star pacer, and his son-in-law, Shaheen Afridi during the T20 World Cup 2026. Appearing on a television program, the elder Afridi did not hold back, using sharp and attacking words to criticise Shaheen’s recent form on the global stage.
The 49-year-old legend appeared visibly frustrated by the below-par displays from the majority of the squad under the leadership of Salman Ali Agha. With Pakistan officially knocked out of the title race, the team has been buried under a mountain of criticism, with Shahid Afridi joining a chorus of former cricketers who are publicly laying blame for the early exit.
He’s making mistakes again and again: Shahid Afridi on Shaheen Afridi
In his critique, Afridi directed his disappointment specifically toward the bowling unit's lack of execution. He claimed to have had numerous discussions with Shaheen regarding his technique and strategy, yet expressed disbelief that the pacer and his teammates still struggle with death-over execution. Despite their years of experience, Afridi argued that the bowlers seemed unable to handle the pressure of the final overs when the match was on the line.
"Shaheen has been playing for so long, yet he doesn’t know where he is supposed to bowl in the last overs. I have told Shaheen so many times. He’s making mistakes again and again. We don’t know when our bowlers will understand these things. These people are neither learning, nor do they want to learn, nor do they want to score runs", Afridi said on a TV show.
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Under the leadership of captain Agha and head coach Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup was respectable but ultimately insufficient to keep them in title contention. In their final Super 8 match on February 28, a must-win scenario, the team secured a narrow five-run victory over Sri Lanka. However, despite the win, they were eliminated from the tournament due to an inferior Net Run Rate compared to New Zealand.
The bowling unit struggled significantly during that final fixture, with Shaheen Afridi proving particularly expensive. The star seamer conceded 48 runs in his four overs while picking up only a single wicket, making him the team's second-most expensive bowler of the night, trailing only Shadab Khan.
Throughout the 2026 campaign, Shaheen participated in five matches, claiming a total of eight wickets over 17 overs. While he was the side’s second-highest wicket-taker, his economy rate of 10.53, having surrendered 179 runs, became a point of major concern.
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The head coach is giving Shadab Khan chance after chance: Afridi
Former captain Afridi also voiced his dissatisfaction with Shadab Khan’s contribution to the flagship event. Shadab managed just 118 runs and five wickets across seven matches, a stat line that critics have labeled as a below-par performance for a senior all-rounder in a high-stakes global tournament.
"The head coach is giving Shadab chance after chance. That’s why I said Shadab can become the next Pakistan captain. But looking at his recent performance, he doesn’t even deserve a place in the playing XI", Afridi added.