 "Pakistan legends criticise Salman Agha's team as it falls 2-0 behind New Zealand: 'Everyone wants to bat like Afridi'")
The Pakistan cricket team has been in shambles for many years, with their slump across formats continuing since their one-off victory against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy. After being knocked out in the first round of three consecutive ICC events over the past one and a half years, Pakistan are now being humiliated by New Zealand’s second-string side in the shortest format. While Pakistan have also fielded a relatively inexperienced team for the eight-match bilateral series, including three ODIs, that does not justify their 2-0 scoreline thus far.
Former players have come down hard on the team’s selection, strategy, and overall performance, with legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi leading the charge. Pakistan lost the first T20I by 9 wickets with 59 balls remaining and the second match by 5 wickets. Salman Agha, who took over as T20 captain from Mohammad Rizwan following Pakistan’s group-stage exit from the Champions Trophy 2025, has not been able to turn things around as many were hoping after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sacked Rizwan and made him the skipper.
Pakistan legends slam Salman Agha & Co.
Shahid Afridi, while talking about the first two T20I matches against New Zealand, slammed the reckless approach shown by the Pakistan batters, stating, “It looks like everyone wants to bat like Shahid Afridi, but you can’t score 200 in every match.”
He also questioned the PCB over its selection policies, arguing that the squad lacked experienced first-class players. Afridi also pointed out how the board picked fewer spinners for the Champions Trophy, which was being held in Pakistan and the UAE, where conditions favour spin bowling, but took more spinners for the tour of New Zealand.
“They sent first-class players with just 10-11 matches of experience. Where spinners were needed, they picked pacers, and where pacers were needed, they picked extra spinners,” Afridi said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAfridi further expressed frustration over the handling of players. “These players have been warming the bench for a long time, yet they are not being given chances. What’s the point of keeping them in the squad if they aren’t going to play?” he questioned.
On the issue of captaincy, Afridi also took a dig at the PCB for its inconsistent leadership decisions. “The board needs a permanent chairman. Babar Azam was given ample opportunities as captain, but why was Mohammad Rizwan only given six months in the role?” he asked, referring to the constant reshuffling of leadership roles within the team and also higher up in the PCB. Since the turn of the century, the role of PCB Chairman has changed hands 14 times in Pakistan.
‘If we don’t work in the right direction, we will continue to fall further’: Inzaman
Meanwhile, former chief selector and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq also weighed in on the team’s poor performances over the last few years. “I would think that the cricket board now needs to learn from its mistakes and not repeat the same mistakes we have made in the last two years,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by Dawn.
Expressing concerns about the team’s declining standards, he added, “In the past two years, the performance of the Pakistan team has been on a decline. If we don’t work in the right direction, we will continue to fall further.”
Former cricketer Sikandar Bakht echoed their sentiments, calling for stricter measures from the PCB. Speaking to Geo Super, Bakht insisted that centrally contracted players should be mandated to play domestic tournaments. “They are employees of the Pakistan Cricket Board. They get 60 lakh per month, so they must play in the tournaments the PCB is organising. The buck stops with the PCB. They have to make sure that players are available,” he asserted.
“This shouldn’t happen. Mohsin Naqvi needs to be strict. He comes off as a polite person, but he needs to change his ways. You have to ask what is happening. Be strict. Stop their central contracts,” he warned.
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