“They have never done anything remarkable against India” - Shadab Khan hits out at former cricketers Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has reacted sharply to the criticism senior cricketers received after their team’s defeat to India in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo.

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After Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India, former cricketers Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf publicly questioned the form and selection of senior players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan.

However, Shadab was quick to react to the criticism, stating that even the former cricketers failed to secure victories against India in World Cup history, adding that their team managed to defeat India in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

“Our ex-cricketers have their own opinions. They have done well for Pakistan, and at the end of the day, they have also never defeated India in the World Cup. We were the ones who defeated India in the 2021 World Cup,” Shadab told reporters. 

"In World Cups, we have beaten India only once. Yes, they are legends, but they have never done anything remarkable against India in the World Cup,” he added.

“As for criticism, you can’t control it. Everyone has their own opinions. I think since I came back, there was just one over where things didn’t go well, and because of that, I faced a lot of criticism. But I don’t need to justify that. I focus on what I can control. A bad day or a bad over can happen. It’s T20 cricket, you can give runs, or you can take wickets. I don’t think too much about it,” he concluded.

In the last group stage fixture against Namibia, Shadab Khan batted at No.5, scoring 36 runs off 22 balls with a four and three sixes as Pakistan posted 199/3 in 20 overs. With the ball, he scalped three wickets for 19 runs in his four-over spell.

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