Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has spoken out amid reports that the national team could face heavy fines following a disappointing campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
During a recent interview with a local news channel, Afridi shared his thoughts on the current debate on penalties and player management in domestic cricket.
He opined that good performers should be sent to first-class cricket, adequate rest should be given and financial penalty alone is not enough.
“They are wondering what they can do with the 5 million. In my opinion, this is not really a fine. Those who don’t perform should be sent to first-class cricket. I believe some players should not come back for at least 2 years. From my point of view, these punishments are enough,” Afridi said.
He further elaborated on the importance of resting players and making necessary changes within teams, adding his perspective on the role of official orders.
“Those who need rest should be rested, changes should be made within the players. These punishments are enough; 5 million is enough. As far as I know, there is no official statement from PCB on this,” he said.
The former all-rounder’s comments came after reports indicated that 2009 champions Pakistan had pulled out of the 20-team tournament last week following a narrow win over Sri Lanka in the final Super Eight game.
The win was their only win against a full member nation, having suffered losses to arch-rivals India and England in the earlier stages. Their match against New Zealand was abandoned due to persistent rain in Colombo.
Pakistan’s early exit marks the second consecutive T20 World Cup where they have failed to reach the semi-finals, their last qualification being as runners-up in 2022.
In response, sources said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reviewing the possibility of fining a player Rs 5 million for poor match performances. It is understood that any punishment, if applied, will not be uniform.
Players deemed to have given “extremely disappointing” performances could face stiffer sanctions, while those with satisfactory performances could avoid penalties.
Following the T20 World Cup shock, the Pakistan team is set to tour Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series, scheduled to be held in Dhaka from March 11 to 15.