Category: Sports

Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has defended Babar Azam’s place in the T20 side, saying the senior batter is not solely responsible for Pakistan’s struggles in the T20 World Cup.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Current, Afridi said other senior players must also step up in big moments.

“Look, in the last match [46 against USA], Babar scored runs, right? Okay? But as a senior player, it’s not just Babar’s responsibility. There’s also Fakhar, there’s Shaheen. These are players who have been representing Pakistan for quite some time. It’s their responsibility too to deliver big performances in major events. To win matches for Pakistan. So, I think right now there’s no issue with Babar. He faces balls but he should try to convert those balls into more runs,” he said.

It is worth noting that the interview was recorded before Pakistan’s match against India.

However, after Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India on Sunday, Afridi’s tone shifted. Speaking to a private television channel after the match, he said, “I would drop Babar, Shaheen and Shadab. Give new players a chance against Namibia.”

Babar managed only five runs against India before getting dismissed playing an unnecessary shot. India batted first and posted 175 for 7 in their 20 overs. Pakistan collapsed in reply, managing just 114 before being bowled out in 18 overs.

Babar had scored 66 runs across three matches at a strike rate of 100.08 going into the tournament. His absence from last year’s Asia Cup, where Pakistan badly missed an anchor batter, had kept him under scrutiny ever since.

Pakistan face Namibia on Wednesday needing a win to stay in the tournament.

Former Pakistan cricket legends have spoken out in support of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, calling on authorities to ensure he receives proper medical treatment after reports emerged that he has lost most of the vision in his right eye.

Wasim Akram, who was part of the Imran-led team that won the 1992 Cricket World Cup, posted a heartfelt message on X. 

“It is heartbreaking to hear our skipper Imran Khan going through health issues. I sincerely hope the authorities take this seriously and ensure he receives the best possible medical care. Wishing him strength, a speedy recovery, and a full return to good health,” he wrote.

Waqar Younis struck a similar tone, setting aside any political dimension to make a direct human appeal. 

“Putting politics aside, our national hero who gave us our greatest glory on the sporting field, a cancer hospital which helped so many, including my own mother, is suffering a health emergency and requires urgent treatment. I humbly request the related authorities he gets the appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Get well soon skipper,” he said.

Shoaib Akhtar, who recently spent three months in the United States (US) raising funds for Imran’s Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital, also weighed in. 

“The last three months I’ve been raising funds in USA for Imran Khan’s Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital. I’m deeply saddened to hear the news of him losing vision in his eye. I hope he gets the best treatment and I’m wishing him a speedy recovery,” he said.

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja termed it “an emotional meltdown” to see Imran suffering and losing vision in one eye. “I hope humanity prevails and his suffering is reduced.”

Earlier, Shahid Afridi, responding to a question about Imran’s health, also kept his message simple and grounded in principle. “Health is a basic right of every human being. Imran Khan must be given this right, that he and his family can seek treatment from wherever they choose,” he said.

As many as 14 former international cricket captains from five Test-playing nations have written to the Pakistani government for better treatment of jailed former prime minister (PM) and World Cup winning captain Imran Khan.

As per the details, the cricketing legends sought proper medical treatment and humane conditions for Khan in prison, in a letter that came amid reports that he has lost most of the vision in his right eye.

The letter, a copy of which is available with The Current, was drafted by former Australian captain Greg Chappell and carries the signatures of former Indian captains Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, Australians Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ian Chappell, Kim Hughes and Belinda Clark; England’s Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, Mike Brearley and David Gower alongside West Indies great Clive Lloyd and New Zealand’s John Wright.

“We, the undersigned former captains of our national cricket teams, write with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and incarceration conditions of Imran Khan, the distinguished former Captain of Pakistan and a legendary figure in world cricket. As captain, he led Pakistan to their historic 1992 Cricket World Cup victory, a triumph built on skill, resilience, leadership, and sportsmanship that inspired generations across borders,” it read.

“Many of us competed against him, shared the field with him, or grew up idolising his all-round brilliance, charisma, and competitive spirit. He remains one of the finest all-rounders and captains the sport has ever seen, earning respect from players, fans, and administrators alike,” they added.

The letter also recognised Khan’s political and said that he served as prime minister of Pakistan, leading his nation during a challenging period. “Regardless of political perspectives, he holds the honour of having been democratically elected to the highest office in his country.”

“Recent reports concerning his health, particularly the alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody, and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us profound concern. As fellow cricketers who understand the values of fair play, honour, and respect that transcend the boundary rope, we believe that a person of Imran Khan’s stature deserves to be treated with the dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon,” they wrote.

The letter made three specific demands: immediate and ongoing medical attention from specialists of Khan’s own choosing, humane conditions of detention in line with international standards, including regular family visits, and fair and transparent access to legal processes without delay.

“Cricket has long been a bridge between nations. Our shared history on the field reminds us that rivalry ends when the stumps are drawn and respect endures. Imran Khan embodied that spirit throughout his career. We call on authorities to honour it now by upholding the principles of decency and justice. This appeal is made in the spirit of sportsmanship and common humanity, without prejudice to any legal proceedings,” they wrote.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has said that his players are hurting after their 61-run defeat to India in Colombo on Sunday.

“There’s a pretty disappointed dressing room in there at the moment, because they know how much it means to Pakistan,” he said.

Hesson, who has now lost four straight matches against India after three defeats at last year’s Asia Cup, defended the decision to bowl first. 

“I think the ball was spinning quite a lot initially and we started off well, but I think the way Kishan played, he took the game away from us,” he said.

Pakistan had won five games in a row coming into the match. “We were confident, but today we got outplayed,” Hesson admitted.

Hesson remained defiant. “We have to pick ourselves up and make sure that we’re very good in two or three days. We have played some good cricket in the lead-up to this World Cup so we’re confident to do well in the tournament.”

The match had been in doubt until the Pakistan government cleared the tour just days before. India, the defending champions, made the most of it. They posted 175 for 7 after Pakistan opted to field first, with Ishan Kishan’s 77 holding the innings together after opener Abhishek Sharma fell in the first over. 

Suryakumar Yadav added 32 and Shivam Dube chipped in with 27 to take India to a total Pakistan never came close to chasing.

Jasprit Bumrah made sure of that. He knocked over Saim Ayub for six and skipper Salman Agha for four in the second over, leaving Pakistan at 13 for 3 before the chase had barely begun. Usman Khan top-scored with 44 but got little help, and Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs, their third lowest score against India in T20 internationals.

The loss stretched Pakistan’s T20 World Cup record against India to one win and eight defeats. India confirmed their Super Eights place with a third straight win while Pakistan must beat Namibia on Wednesday to stay in the tournament.

Indian cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle has delivered a blunt assessment of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi following Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, saying both players have lost the edge that once made them indispensable.

“I’ve been an admirer over the years of Babar Azam. It doesn’t matter which team you’re playing for. When a great player looks ordinary, it makes you feel bad. And I’m afraid Babar Azam looked ordinary,” Bhogle wrote in an Instagram post. 

The veteran commentator questioned whether Babar’s struggles stem from a deeper identity crisis as a batter. 

“I just wonder whether he’s caught in two minds, whether he should play the game that comes naturally to him, which is a beautiful, easy, flowing, classical game, or whether he needs to stay relevant in T20 cricket by playing shots that make him lose shape. And as a result of that, he played an ugly shot. Babar Azam and ugly don’t go together,” he wrote. 

Babar managed just five runs before Axar Patel bowled him while attempting a slog, with Pakistan already in deep trouble at 34 for 4, continuing a miserable run of form against India in T20 internationals.

Bhogle said he saw the decline coming. “In my preview to this game, I had said that if you had asked me some time ago who the two key players in the opposition would be, I would have said Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi. But I said I no longer feel that way. And today was vindication of that.”

His assessment of Shaheen was equally damning. “Shaheen Shah Afridi looks a shadow of himself as a bowler.” The left-arm pacer conceded 31 runs in just two overs as India posted 175 for 7 in their 20 overs.

Bhogle tied the two players’ failures to a broader problem in the Pakistan setup. “Without these two great players contributing, there just seems to be a void in that Pakistan team. Add to that the decline of Shadab, as I’ve said, and there’s far too many places to fill.”

Pakistan, chasing 176, collapsed to 114 all out, losing by 61 runs in what became India’s biggest ever victory over Pakistan in T20 World Cup history.

Pakistan’s team management is seriously considering dropping senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi for their crucial T20 World Cup match against Namibia following a humiliating 61-run defeat to India on Sunday.

According to news reports,  sources within the team have revealed that management is frustrated with the continued poor performances of senior players in crucial matches and is now looking at giving bench strength a chance.

The team is planning two to three changes for the Namibia match on February 18, which has become a do-or-die encounter for Pakistan. The Green Shirts must win this final group stage match to advance to the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

Pakistan collapsed to 114 all out in 18 overs while chasing India’s target of 176 runs. The defeat exposed glaring weaknesses in both batting and bowling departments.

Babar Azam managed just five runs before getting dismissed while playing an unnecessary shot, continuing his poor form in the tournament. Shaheen Afridi’s bowling also came under scrutiny after he conceded 31 runs in just two overs against India.

Pakistan will qualify for the Super Eight even if the Namibia match gets washed out due to rain. However, the team management appears determined to make changes regardless, signaling a potential shift in strategy for the remainder of the tournament.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has revealed how his team coped with their heartbreaking double super over defeat to South Africa by indulging in comfort food and supporting each other through the disappointment.

The loss in Ahmedabad has virtually ended Afghanistan’s hopes of advancing to the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, but Khan refuses to let his players dwell on individual mistakes.

Speaking in Delhi ahead of his team’s match against UAE, Khan described how the squad dealt with the crushing defeat. “We were in Ahmedabad and we told the manager to order food. Peshawari food: their dal bukhara, dal makhani, I told him to order that and bring some tandoori chicken so that we can vent our anger on that,” he said with a smile.

The Afghan skipper made it clear that blame culture has no place in his dressing room. 

“No one should say that he did this or he did that because it brings negativity in the team. No one has lost, just our team has lost. We put in a lot of effort, but we never blame any player for being in a Super Over. I always tell everyone that as a captain I don’t want to hear any of these things. It disappoints me more than the game when you’re blaming the players.”

Khan compared the loss to Afghanistan’s defeat against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup in Mumbai, where Glenn Maxwell’s extraordinary double-century knocked them out of semi-final contention after they had Australia reeling at 91 for 7 while defending 291.

“To be honest, it’s pretty hard. It’s very, very hard to lose that game where we had it in our hand a couple of times and then it just slips off your hand and it disappoints you. It doesn’t go away from your mind. Like, the game we played against Australia in the 2023 World Cup at Wankhede, it never goes out of the mind, until we won against them in the 2024 World Cup. And then slowly it got out of the mind,” he said.

In the match against South Africa, both teams scored 187 in regulation play, forcing the first super over. Afghanistan posted 17 runs in the first super over, but South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs hit a six off the final ball to tie it at 17 and force a second super over. 

In the second super over, South Africa scored 23 runs. Afghanistan, chasing 24 from four balls after losing a wicket early, saw Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit three consecutive sixes off Keshav Maharaj, needing just a boundary off the final ball after a wide. However, Gurbaz was caught at point, giving South Africa victory by four runs in one of the most dramatic finishes in T20 World Cup history.

It is worth noting that during the match against UAE on Monday in Delhi, Khan made history by becoming the first bowler to take 700 wickets in T20 cricket.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its chairman following the team’s humiliating 61-run defeat to India in Sunday’s T20 World Cup group stage match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

As per the details, the legendary pacer, in conversation with an Indian TV channel, did not pull his punches, questioning the chairman’s credentials to lead Pakistan cricket and accusing the PCB of repeatedly selecting underperforming senior players.

“Now, one guy doesn’t even know about cricket and he’s the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. How will the team be run now? You’re saying one guy, you’ve made him a superstar, he can’t win a single match. You’ve made him a star who can’t bowl 10 overs,” he said.

While Akhtar did not name specific players, his comments appeared to reference Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi who were heavily criticised by experts and fans over their poor performance against India.

The former speedster then issued a stark warning about placing incompetent people in positions of power. 

“When you give a big job to an incompetent and ignorant person, he will destroy the country. He will bring down any organisation. The example is in front of you; you’re intelligent enough to understand,” Akhtar said without naming PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.

He described such appointments as the biggest crime in the world, emphasising the destructive consequences of allowing unqualified individuals to hold major responsibilities.

Earlier, Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed during the match as seven batters failed to reach double figures and India secured their fourth T20I victory over Pakistan in the last six months.

Naqvi, who received praise just days ago for his handling of the boycott of India match and bringing the International Cricket Council (ICC) to the talks table, now finds himself facing intense criticism as questions mount about his leadership and the team’s continued struggles against major opponents.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has called for major changes to the national T20 team after their crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup on Sunday.

India batted first and posted 175 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs. Pakistan collapsed in reply, managing just 114 runs before getting bowled out in 18 overs.

Speaking to a private TV channel, Afridi pointed out that the team made numerous mistakes during the match, stressing that India deserved the victory. He particularly questioned captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision-making throughout the game.

“Why did he keep our trump card Usman Tariq hidden until the 10th over?” Afridi asked, expressing frustration with the tactical approach.

The former all-rounder also criticized his son-in-law, star pacer Shaheen Afridi. The fast bowler conceded 31 runs in just two overs during the match. “Shaheen didn’t bowl well either. Even after conceding runs in the first over, he was given the final over when we had Faheem Ashraf available,” he said.

Shadab Khan’s performance was equally disappointing, as he gave away 17 runs in a single over. Babar Azam managed only five runs before getting dismissed while playing an unnecessary shot.

Afridi then made his most striking statement, calling for senior players to be dropped from the squad. “If the decision was in my hands, I would bench Shaheen, Shadab Khan and Babar and give new players a chance,” he declared.

He questioned how long the senior players have been part of the team without delivering in crucial matches against major opponents. “When we expect them to perform well against big teams, they don’t deliver. That’s why we should give new players a chance in the next match against Namibia,” Afridi added.

It is worth noting that this is Pakistan’s 4th T20I defeat agaisnt India in last six months.