Shahid Afridi delivered a strong response to Shadab Khan following the latter’s comments about former players during the T20 World Cup 2026. The former Pakistan captain insisted that Shadab Khan must respond through performances rather than public statements after Pakistan’s mixed campaign.

Shahid Afridi Questions Shadab Khan’s Approach

After Pakistan’s defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026, Shadab Khan pointed out that his generation managed to beat India in an ICC event, something previous teams failed to do. Shahid Afridi, however, reminded Shadab Khan that success must be sustained. He stated that the 2021 victory brought respect, but the team struggled to handle it both individually and collectively.

Performance Over Words in T20 World Cup 2026

Shahid Afridi emphasized that criticism from former cricketers is part of international cricket. He revealed that when Shadab Khan was out of form and facing exclusion, former players supported him publicly. Afridi stressed that during his era, players answered harsh criticism with performances against top sides, not smaller teams.

Challenge Ahead for Shadab Khan

Pointing out that Shadab Khan’s notable contribution came against Namibia, Shahid Afridi challenged him to deliver against stronger teams like New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2026. Afridi concluded that consistent performances from Shadab Khan would automatically silence critics and strengthen Pakistan’s campaign.