Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has urged team management to consider changes during the T20 World Cup 2026, saying players must be rotated if performances, including wicket-taking, do not improve.
He said on a Samaa TV programme that if Shaheen Shah Afridi fails to take wickets, another player should be given an opportunity in Pakistan’s playing combination during the tournament.
Afridi said senior players must guide the side according to match situations and praised India captain Suryakumar Yadav for playing a fine innings as team leader in pressure situations overall.
He described Pakistan’s upcoming match against the United States as a tough contest, while maintaining Pakistan would still start as favourites in the ongoing T20 World Cup tournament overall context.
Afridi said net run rate plays a decisive role in tournament progress, adding that Pakistan did not appear to plan for finishing matches early during the competition overall so far.
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He said winning by large margins significantly affects net run rate and added that strong teams do not allow weaker sides opportunities to recover during matches at tournaments overall level.
The former captain said the next match is extremely important and stressed that performances from nine to ten players are required for success within the playing eleven consistently overall together.
He said decisions are needed for batting positions four and five, adding that Khawaja Nafay can score 20 to 22 runs off 10 balls when used properly by management correctly.
Afridi said Pakistan’s middle order has faced difficulties for a long time, reiterating that teams cannot rely on one or two players alone during major tournaments consistently overall competitions repeatedly.
He said he wants Babar Azam to become a match-winner but added that experienced players must make way if they fail to deliver despite long careers with the side previously.
