Former Pakistan captain questions Shadab Khan's return to national team

Former Pakistan captain and renowned all-rounder Shahid Khan Afridi has raised questions regarding the return of Shadab Khan to the national team. 

In a conversation with the media in Karachi, Afridi expressed his doubts about how players are selected for the team, particularly regarding Shadab’s return. 

He said, "No one knows how these boys return to the team. What performance has Shadab Khan shown in domestic cricket?"

He further emphasized, "When decisions are not made on merit, this is how things will go. The players who are currently out of the T20I squad will eventually return."

Afridi also raised concerns about the Champions Trophy post-match ceremony, stating, "It’s a big question why a PCB representative was not invited to the Champions Trophy final event."

The former captain added, "We spend all our time preparing, and in the end, we end up getting surgeries. Our cricket has been in the ICU for quite some time. As soon as a new chairman comes, everything changes."

He also criticized the frequent changes in captaincy, saying, "We change captains very quickly. Captains and coaches should be given time, and we shouldn’t be hanging a sword over their heads."

Afridi pointed out that while players undergo surgeries, the management is protecting itself, saying, "Coaches blame players to save their own jobs. When we win, coaches take all the credit."

He also spoke about the Pakistan's newly appointed T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, saying, "Salman Ali Agha is a good player in one-day cricket, but his strike rate in T20 cricket is low."

Regarding PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Afridi stated, "Mohsin Naqvi is a very positive person, and he wants to work, but he doesn't know cricket. That’s his problem."

Afridi suggested, "I have advised him to focus on one thing. You can’t do three things at once. The cricket board is a huge job, and it requires full-time commitment. You can’t rely on advisors for this."