Shaheen Afridi gets slammed [Source: AP Photos]
Pakistan cricket is once again caught in controversy after shocking claims about fast bowler Shaheen Afridi surfaced. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently held a meeting to discuss the team’s disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. During this meeting, a selector made a surprising statement that left everyone stunned.
Shaheen Afridi Accused Of Ignoring Instructions
According to Cricket Pakistan, a heated discussion took place in the PCB meeting regarding Mohammad Rizwan’s comments after Pakistan’s six-wicket loss to India in their group match on February 23 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
During the meeting, an official raised concerns about Shaheen Afridi’s attitude and approach on the field. Reports suggest that Afridi did not follow the instructions given by the coaches during matches. He was specifically asked to bowl yorkers (a type of delivery aimed at the batsman’s feet to restrict runs), but he chose to stick to his own game plan instead.
Pakistan’s Squad Changes After Champions Trophy Failure
Because of this, the selectors and PCB management felt that Shaheen was not performing effectively in One Day Internationals (ODIs). As a result, he was dropped from Pakistan’s ODI squad but retained for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand later this month.
Before the Champions Trophy, Pakistan’s fast bowlers were seen as the team’s biggest strength. However, their performance in the tournament was disappointing. Shaheen Afridi only managed to take two wickets in two matches, with an average of 71 runs per wicket.
The squads for three ODIs and five T20Is have been finalised. Many senior players have been rested or possibly dropped; from one format. For instance, Babar Azam is not included in the T20Is but will play in the ODIs.