Pakistan’s crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup in Colombo has triggered sharp criticism back home. Senior stars Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi are at the centre of the storm.
Shahid Afridi did not hold back. He openly called for a clean break in the T20 side and said it was time to move on from the senior trio.
“If it was in my hands, I would not pick Babar, Shadab, and Shaheen again in the T20 team. They have had plenty of chances to come through for Pakistan but failed again yesterday,” Afridi said.
Javed Miandad questioned the team’s character in big games and sounded deeply disappointed after the loss to India.
“Bhai bade matches main hi players ko character dikhana padta hai, woh hamare players nahi dekha paye,” he said, adding that the players failed to show fight when it mattered.
Mohammad Yousaf, usually a strong supporter of Babar, also admitted that change is needed in the shortest format.
“Time’s up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab, Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides,” Yousaf said.
Shoaib Akhtar mocked Babar’s superstar tag and questioned his ability to win matches under pressure.
“You have made a superstar out of a player who cannot win you a game,” Akhtar said bluntly.
Selection and strategy under fire
Rashid Latif criticised the team’s planning and said Pakistan misread India’s strength completely.
“They are a big match team and every player is suited to his role. Unfortunately watching yesterday’s match it was obvious we got all our planning wrong,” he said.
Miandad also questioned the team combination, especially the bowling choices on the day.
“Why didn’t they bowl Faheem Ashraf. Playing six spinners what kind of strategy is this?” he asked.
Moin Khan admitted that India are ahead right now and said Pakistan must accept reality.
“For the last 15-20 years, there has been no investment. The sad reality of the situation is that while we fought with India on the ground at one point, today we can’t even dream of beating them,” he said.
Ahmed Shehzad even suggested this could have been Babar’s final T20 outing.
“Babar gone once again. Maybe it was his last dance to prove his worth in this format,” he remarked.
Fans on social media also joined the criticism, with some saying, “Would have been better if we had kept with the boycott.”
The defeat has now turned into a bigger debate about Pakistan’s future in T20 cricket, with many legends demanding fresh faces and a new approach.