.jpg?type=hq)
Mohsin Naqvi (L) and Shahid Afridi (R) (Source: AFP)
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been in the headlines for his unfiltered remarks about the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB following the team's humiliating T20 World Cup 2026 exit. Afridi hasn’t minced words while expressing his views on the Pakistan cricket team and the management for the poor outing in the World T20.
Afridi has been one of the hard-line critics of players’ poor performances throughout Pakistan’s entire T20 World Cup campaign. Besides that, he has thrown the management under the bus for poor decisions and team selection in the tournament’s crucial games.
“Narrow-minded thinking” - Shahid Afridi on PCB’s decision
Shahid Afridi has now launched a fresh attack on Mohsin Naqvi's PCB after the board reportedly slapped a fine of PKR 50 lakhs on Pakistan players. Notably, the board’s decision is understood to have been taken in the aftermath of the team’s embarrassing outing in the T20 World Cup 2026.
PCB’s decision to fine the players with PKR 50 lakhs didn’t sit well with the 2009 T20 World Cup-winning all-rounder. He questioned the board's intent behind punishing the players despite miserable performances at the biggest stage.
“This is a decision that’s hard to understand. That’s narrow-minded thinking. This is a small amount. What will you even do with 50 lakhs? It doesn’t even sound like a penalty,” said Shahid Afridi to Samaa TV.
“Players who did not perform, send them to first-class cricket. There are some players, I feel, who shouldn’t be in the team for at least two years. That’s enough,” he added later.
Shahid Afridi demands PCB to appoint Fakhar Zaman as T20I captain
Just a few days back, Shahid Afridi left everyone shocked with his unexpected suggestion for the Pakistan Cricket Board. Afridi’s suggestion came after Pakistan underwent a humiliating World T20 campaign under Salman Ali Agha’s captaincy.
Therefore, Afridi, while speaking on TV, felt that the team needs an aggressive leader who can lead the side with an attacking approach. Furthermore, he went on to suggest the opener Fakhar Zaman’s name for the captaincy role in the shortest format of the game.
“Looking at the current situation, I would go with Fakhar Zaman. I want an aggressive captain. Right now, only one player fits the bill, and that is Fakhar [Zaman],” Afridi had said to Samaa TV.
But the fact that Fakhar is already 35 completely questions Afridi’s long-term intent for the Men in Green. It also raises questions around the management’s future plans with Fakhar Zaman if he gets named T20I captain in case Mohsin Naqvi and co. nods to Afridi’s advice.
Also Read: Shahid Afridi Thrashes Son-In-Law Shaheen Afridi For Pakistan's Exit
PCB likely to make major changes in squad for ODIs against
After the Super-8 exit from the T20 World Cup’s 10th edition, the Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to take some big decisions. The board might make major changes in the ODI squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.
Reports in the Pakistani media suggest that some big names are likely to be dropped from the ODI squad. The list of potential snubs from the ODI squad includes the likes of Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz.
