Former Pakistan captain calls for Shaheen Afridi's removal from team, report

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has called for a major overhaul of Pakistan's fast bowling attack, criticizing the underperformance of senior pacers following the team’s heavy defeat to New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-nation series.

According to a media report, Latif raised concerns over the form of Pakistan's senior bowlers, particularly Shaheen Shah Afridi. 

“When was the last time Afridi delivered a match-winning performance?” Latif questioned, adding that it was time to make changes in the squad. 

He also expressed doubts about Naseem Shah, stating that despite his long tenure with the national team, he has not contributed significantly to Pakistan’s success.

The former cricketer pointed out the disparity in how players are treated, pointing out that players like Khushdil Shah and Salman Agha are frequently criticized, while senior players like Afridi, Babar Azam, and Muhammad Rizwan rarely face scrutiny for their performances. 

"No one is talking about these players' lacklustre performances," Latif said, emphasizing that the senior players need to be held accountable for their performances.

Latif stressed that the team's overall success depends on the performance of its senior players. 

“Saud Shakeel and Tayyab Tahir will perform when the main players step up,” he added.

The former captain also discussed the impact of Haris Rauf's injury on the team's performance, suggesting that the outcome of the match could have been different if Rauf had been fit. He urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take a fresh approach by seeking new fast bowlers and ensuring that senior players are held accountable for their underwhelming performances.

On Saturday, Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat to New Zealand by 78 runs in the opening match of the tri-nation series at Gaddafi Stadium. Pakistan’s chase of a 331-run target fell short, with the team collapsing to 252 runs in 47.5 overs.

Fakhar Zaman top-scored for Pakistan with 84 runs, but disappointing performances from key batters Babar Azam (10 runs) and Mohammad Rizwan (3 runs) left Pakistan with little chance of victory. Vice-captain Agha Salman fought back with a 40-run knock off 51 balls, but the match slipped away as the lower order offered no further resistance.