Shahid Afridi takes a dig at Khushdil Shah and Pakistan players after their series loss against England
Shahid Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Pakistan Cricket Team (Image Credit: Twitter)
Recently, Pakistan failed to chase down 210 runs in the seventh and last game of the series. This resulted in the team losing the series 4-3. In the game, the home team (Pakistan) batting order failed badly. In the last month or so, the Green Brigade’s middle order has been worrisome for its fans. Meanwhile, former Pakistan skipper The hasn’t minced words while criticizing the middle order.
The 2009 20-20 World Cup winner has taken a dig at the players by saying that personal grooming is fine but on-field matters at the end of the day. He added that the performances will make you look good in the end. The former explosive batter also pointed out the importance of handling pressure at the highest level.
“Achhe kapde pehenke banda achha toh lag jaata hai, but asal cheez toh performance hain. Baalo me conditioning karke taiyaar hone se kuch nahi hota. Asal cheez performances hain. Performance aapko khoobsurat banaati hai. International cricket is all about pressure, aur depend karta hai players pe, ki kaise vo pressure handle karte hain (You can wear good clothes and apply hair conditioner all you want, but in the end, it’s your performances that matter. International cricket is all about pressure and it depends on the players on how they handle it.),” Afridi said.
Criticism is part of the game: Shahid Afridi
The 42-year-old also spoke about the recent criticism of Khushdil Shah from the fans. For the unversed, he was called ‘Parchi’ which means a player is playing in the team due to recommendations. Afridi didn’t take name but urged the players to accept criticism.
“See, there is no doubt that when you give consistent performances, the crowd will worship you. Poor form comes in every players’ life, and criticism is a part of it. But in the end, you will have to make a comeback. Everyone is expecting fours and sixes from you in the lower order and if you don’t perform for 5-6 matches in a row despite being a main player in the team, then you will have to be ready for criticism,” Afridi told Samaa TV.
“You have to face criticism in international cricket. You have to convert it into good performances. A player is tested in international cricket. If you have talent but you are not brave enough, you can’t face the challenges.”
