Shahid Afridi has never been one to hold back his opinions, and the former Pakistan captain has once again taken aim at the national team’s management, expressing frustration over selection policies and player handling.

Addressing a media event on Wednesday, Afridi pointed to a worrying trend in Pakistan’s batting approach, where players seem to be prioritizing aggression over stability.

"It looks like everyone wants to bat like Shahid Afridi, but you can’t score 200 in every match,” Afridi remarked, suggesting that Pakistan’s batting strategy needs a serious rethink.

While Afridi was known for his explosive stroke play, he emphasized that a team needs a balanced approach rather than blind aggression.

His critique didn’t stop there. He took particular issue with the team’s selection choices for the recent tour of New Zealand, where he felt Pakistan’s selectors failed to read the conditions correctly. The side is trailing the five-match T20I series 0-2.

“They sent first-class players with just 10-11 matches of experience. Where spinners were needed, they picked pacers, and where pacers were needed, they picked extra spinners,” he pointed out.

The former all-rounder also called out the management for mishandling key players, citing the prolonged benching of Mohammad Hasnain and Usman Khan.

“These players have been warming the bench for a long time, yet they are not being given chances. What’s the point of keeping them in the squad if they aren’t going to play?” he questioned, arguing that wasted talent and poor squad rotation were major concerns for Pakistan cricket.

Dig at coaching staff?

Afridi expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of the coaching staff. 

“At the level of the Pakistan team, players should not require instruction on how to handle off-spin. These are fundamental skills that ought to be well-established,” he remarked, questioning whether players at the elite level are receiving appropriate guidance.

He also voiced his concerns about the instability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Afridi criticized the frequent changes in leadership and the erratic decision-making, especially in relation to the captaincy.

“The board requires a permanent chairman. Babar Azam was afforded numerous opportunities as captain, yet why was Mohammad Rizwan limited to just six months in that position?” he inquired, highlighting the absence of a coherent strategy.

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