Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has launched a scathing attack on the national selection team, taking direct responsibility for the team’s recent woes following a disastrous ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and ODI series loss to Bangladesh.
In a candid video statement shared on his social media account, Afridi did not hold back, questioning the selectors’ judgment regarding the captaincy appointments and the overall strategic direction of the side.
“You saw the 2026 T20 World Cup and then we lost the Bangladesh series 2-1. I think the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket but you still don’t have an idea of who should captain which format,” Afridi said.
The 49-year-old took particular issue with what he sees as reckless tinkering with the team under the guise of a long-term rebuild.
He argued that players without sufficient domestic experience were unfairly thrust into the international arena.
“You are making many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. All you are doing is selecting youngsters and players who haven’t played in some first-class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even at that standard, which can produce players who are ready to be part of the Pakistan team,” he added.
The former all-rounder expressed regret at the treatment of established players, saying that experienced cricketers with proven credentials in the 50-over format were unfairly rejected during the restructuring process.
“Senior players who really deserved their place – even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances – had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those veteran players despite their solid ODI performances,” he said.
Afridi said the current approach lacks a coherent strategy and disrupts the team environment. He argued that repeatedly issuing caps without a clear plan would do more harm than good.
Instead, you have invited youngsters who have only played in a few domestic and first-class matches. The quality of domestic cricket is not good enough and those players are not ready to come directly into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You offer Pakistan caps again and again – this is not surgery. If anything, the actual surgery should be done in the selection panel,” he concluded.
His comments came in the wake of a disappointing 2-1 ODI series loss to Bangladesh. The series was won by 11 runs in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh scored 290 runs for 5 wickets in 50 overs.
The innings was built on a formidable opening stand between Saif Hasan (36) and Tanzid Hasan who put the Pakistan attack to the sword.
Thansid scored his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 runs with 6 fours and 7 sixes. Tawhit Hridoi (48) and Liton Das (41) made valuable contributions.
In reply, Pakistan’s chase immediately faltered, collapsing to two runs within the first two overs for the loss of two openers. Despite a shaky start, Salman Ali Agha produced a fighting century, his third in ODIs, scoring 106 off 98 balls.
Captain Shaheen Afridi brought down the order with a useful 37, while debutants Saad Masood (38) and Gazi Ghori (29) combined with Abdul Samad (34) to put up some resistance, but the innings eventually folded for 279, falling short of the target.
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