The aftermath of Pakistan’s bruising 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026 has shifted from the pitch to the press room. Following a lackluster performance on February 15, Pakistan’s heaviest T20I loss to their arch-rivals, the cricketing fraternity in Pakistan has been engulfed in a civil war of words. At the centre of the storm is star all-rounder of Pakistan, who has broken his silence to deliver a pointed rebuttal to two of the country’s most decorated icons, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf.
The tension reached a boiling point after the national side’s tame surrender sparked calls for a complete roster overhaul. However, the current player isn’t taking the critique lying down, reminding the old guard that while they may hold legendary status, they carry a historical burden that the current generation finally managed to shed.
Star all-rounder fires back at Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yousuf for questioning Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 form
Responding to the wave of vitriol from former players, Shadab Khan took a sly dig at the predecessors who have been vocal about the team’s inconsistency. While acknowledging their contributions to the game, Shadab pointedly reminded the critics of their own struggles against India on the world stage.
“Criticism is not in our hands, former cricketers have their own opinions. They were legends, but even they could not do what we have done. We have beaten India in a World Cup,” Shadab told Pakistani media in post-match press conference.
Shadab’s comments refer to the historic 2021 T20 World Cup victory, where Pakistan finally broke the World Cup jinx against India, a feat that eluded the teams of the 90s and 2000s, including those featuring Afridi and Yousuf. For Shadab, the obsession with a single bad over or a dip in form ignores the broader achievements of the current core.
“I focus on what I can control, it’s T20 cricket, you can give runs or you can take wickets. I don’t think too much about it,” he added.
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Afridi and Yousuf demand a clean sweep of senior stars
The retaliation from Shadab comes in response to an unprecedented level of aggression from Afridi and Yousuf. Following the defeat, Afridi did not hold back, even suggesting that the selectors should drop his own son-in-law, Shaheen Afridi, alongside Babar Azam and Shadab.
Yousuf echoed this scorched earth policy on social media, suggesting that the current leadership has reached its expiration date.
“Time’s up for Shaheen, Babar and Shadab. Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides,” Yousuf wrote on social media
The critique centers on the perception that the Salman Ali Agha-led side lacks the mental fortitude to handle high-pressure matches against elite opposition. With the T20 World Cup 2026 standings looking grim for Pakistan, the divide between the current locker room and the “Legends Club” has never been wider. Whether this defiance from Shadab sparks a mid-tournament turnaround or further destabilizes a shaky squad remains to be seen.
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