After Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam, star speedster Shaheen Afridi admitted that they didn’t play good cricket but urged the fans to keep supporting and loving them after they crashed out of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after group stages. Shaheen Afridi who starred in Pakistan’s consolation win over Ireland was disappointed over the performance of Pakistan team overall in T20 World Cup.
Pakistan’s disappointing journey in the T20 World Cup 2024 came to an abrupt end as they failed to advance to the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The team faced unexpected setbacks, starting with a thrilling super-over loss to the USA, followed by a crucial defeat against arch-rivals India.
Pakistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign ends on a disappointing note
Despite managing a victory over Canada, Pakistan’s overall performance was just overwhelming, particularly in enhancing their net run rate, which proved decisive in their bid to progress further in the tournament.
The inability of the Men in Green to capitalize on opportunities and put up a cohesive performance left them trailing in the Group A standings of the T20 World Cup 2024. The crucial turning point came when the USA and Ireland’s Group A match was washed out due to poor weather, resulting in both teams sharing points.
This outcome favored the USA and went against the Pakistan team, as this one point took them to the Super 8s of the tournament. However, the USA’s spirited performance during the group stage played a major role in them earning a spot in the Super-8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
After defeating Canada and upsetting Pakistan, the USA displayed resilience in their match against India, although they ultimately suffered defeat, but then the washed-out game against Ireland earned them that one crucial point.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi played a key role in Pakistan’s three-wicket win over Ireland in their last match of the tournament. Afridi finished with impressive figures of 3/22 in his quota of 4 overs and then played a quick cameo of 13 runs off 5 balls to win the Play of the Match award.
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after Babar Azam and Co. were dumped out of the ICC T20 World Cup.
Danish Kaneria slams Pakistan for mishandling star pacer Shaheen Afridi in WT20 2024
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria slammed the side for their mishandling of Shaheen Afridi since the return of fellow left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir after the early exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Amid high expectations, Pakistan flattered to deceive and were ousted from the tournament after the group stage, failing to qualify for the Super Eight.
Shaheen Afridi has been a key figure in Pakistan’s bowling lineup over the past three years, while Amir returned to the side after making a U-turn on his retirement before the T20 World Cup.
Kaneria slammed Pakistan for going with Amir ahead of Afridi in the Super Over in their opening game defeat against USA.
He told SportsNow:
“Ever since Mohammad Amir came in, Shaheen has been treated as a secondary bowler. Shaheen is one such guy who has been a main bowler for you over the last 3 years. He has taken wickets and won matches for you singlehandedly. Yet in the Super Over vs USA, they do not count on Shaheen Afridi.”
Kaneria also questioned Pakistan sending Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar Ahmed ahead of more established stars, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the Super Over.
“In batting also, you are sending Fakhar and Iftikhar. Why did they not send Babar and Rizwan in the Super over? Are they so scared?” stated Kaneria.
Both moves backfired as Amir conceded 18 runs and the Pakistan batters scored 13/1 to lose by five runs in the Super Over.
The Men in Green struggled with the bat throughout the tournament, evidenced by none of the top seven batters even boasting a strike rate of 130.
Danish Kaneria also questions Azam Khan’s spot in Pakistan team
Danish Kaneria further criticized the management for the selection of wicket-keeper batter Azam Khan in the T20 World Cup squad with Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan already there as keeping options.
The 25-year-old played only Pakistan’s tournament opener against USA and scored a golden duck. Azam has struggled in his T20I career, averaging a dismal 8.80 in 14 games.
“What is Azam Khan’s role in the team? On what basis was he picked in the T20 World Cup squad. You are carrying three wicket-keepers with Azam, Rizwan and Usman Khan. What is the need? Literally, the stakeholders of Pakistan cricket are responsible for such activities. Everybody is making fun of Pakistan cricket,” said Kaneria.
Kaneria also questioned the inclusion of leg-spinning all-rounder Shadab Khan by saying:
“What is Shadab’s role in the team? Is he playing as a bowling all-rounder Or just as a pure batter? Clearly, he is not able to bowl. You are just playing Shadab as he is your best friend.”
Shadab endured a horrific T20 World Cup campaign, going wicketless in only four overs of bowling in four games.
His batting wasn’t much better with an average of under 15 and a strike rate of 129.41.