Saqlain Mushtaq and Shadab Khan [Source: X]For what it is worth, the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash on February 15 has sparked rivalries even within families. After a heated debate over Pakistan's poor performance against India, where the Men in Green lost by 61 runs, former Pakistan cricketers and legends brutally criticised the performances of senior players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, as well as Shadab Khan. Shadab Khan responded strongly to the criticism, taking a jab at the veterans and questioning their stature to criticise players like them, who have at least faced India and won many trophies. However, this remark was not taken lightly by his own father-in-law and Pakistan great, Saqlain Mushtaq. What Did Shadab Khan Say About Pakistan Veterans? Things heated up when Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi commented on Shadab's performance along with other senior players, as Afridi demanded the removal of the three players from the playing XI for the remainder of the World Cup. However, Shadab Khan responded strongly, taking a dig at former cricketers and critics alike, which also appeared to hint at his own father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq, who had criticised the performance. “Our ex-cricketers have their own opinions. They have done well for Pakistan, and at the end of the day, they have also never defeated India in the World Cup,” Shadab told reporters in Colombo on Wednesday. “We were the ones who defeated India in the 2021 World Cup. In World Cups, we have beaten India only once. Yes, they are legends, but they have never done anything remarkable against India in the World Cup,” Khan added. Also Read: Shadab Khan's Father-in-Law Saqlain Mushtaq Dragged As Pakistan Star Pokes VeteransSaqlain Mushtaq Unhappy With Shadab’s Comment To make matters more tense, Shadab Khan's father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq, has now joined the debate, expressing his displeasure over the comments. He defended the former players and criticised his son-in-law’s remarks about their achievements. "Those were unwanted comments, and most of the players had played with me. In fact, I am also one of those who have not won an ICC event, but we won several big matches for Pakistan - Tests and ODIs," Saqlain told Telecom Asia Sport. Echoing similar concerns, former player Kamran Akmal also criticised Shadab's remarks, stating that such words against former players are not welcome and warrant caution. Even PCB team manager Naveed Cheema has conveyed to the all-rounder that he should not be so openly critical of former Pakistan legends and veterans, as it reflects a lack of respect towards them. "Naveed Cheema has called to convey to Shadab that he was out of his limits in the press conference on Wednesday night. Shadab should know that all former players - including his father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq - are respectable and are greats of Pakistan. Shadab should respect them and should not use such language," sources told Telecom Asia Sport. Shadab Khan Takes A Hit From Basit Ali On a talk show on ARY News, Shadab's comments were strongly criticised by former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali. Questioning Khan's stature in pointing fingers at Saqlain Mushtaq, Basit Ali delivered sharp remarks on live television. “In my opinion, Shadab Khan should not have said such things about his father-in-law. Saqlain Mushtaq had 10 bowlers like Shadab in his pocket,” Basit Ali said on an ARY News show. Although Shadab Khan bounced back from his poor performance against India with a match-winning display against Namibia, Basit Ali mocked the effort, calling it a performance against a weaker team while he struggles against India. “In the 1990s and 2000s, players never entered the team with poor performance and through contacts. Against Namibia, you come out to bat at No 5, but against India, you leak 17 runs in an over and cannot even field!” Ali added. Nevertheless, Shadab's performance will be further assessed as Pakistan have qualified for the Super 8 stage and will play their next match against New Zealand on February 21, marking their first clash of the Super 8 fixtures in the T20 World Cup 2026.Also Read: AUS vs OMN Live Streaming T20 World Cup 2026, Match 40 Live Telecast- When and Where to Watch Live?
