Babar, Shaheen face axe after India loss
Pakistan captain Babar Azam and pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi are set to be dropped following the team’s defeat to India at the T20 World Cup, local media reported on Monday. The potential overhaul comes after Pakistan’s latest setback in the group stage, where their batting faltered and the bowling unit failed to defend a modest total.
Babar managed only a scratchy start before falling cheaply, continuing a lean run in the tournament, while Afridi went wicketless in a high-pressure spell. “No player is bigger than the team,” a PCB source told reporters. “Performance will decide selection.”
A senior squad member admitted the loss “hurt deeply,” adding, “We didn’t execute our plans.” Former captain Wasim Akram urged calm, saying, “You can’t rebuild overnight, but accountability is necessary.”
Pakistan now face a must-win scenario to keep semifinal hopes alive, with selectors reportedly considering fresh faces to revive a campaign that has stumbled at a critical stage.