Shahid Afridi reveals three senior Pakistan players who should be axed after defeat to India

Former Pakistan all-rounder and analyst Shahid Afridi has shared his opinion on Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to their arch-rivals India at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.

Speaking on a local Pakistani show, Afridi reckoned that the senior players like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Shadab Khan should be benched and junior players should replace them in the XI against Namibia.

“So if I have to make a decision here, I would even sit Shaheen out, sit Babar out, and sit Shadab out as well. I would play the new boys, give the youngsters a chance. And in our match against Namibia, I would back them, give them confidence, and keep playing them,” Afridi said.

“Because we’ve been watching these players for so long, they keep getting opportunities. And every time, we expect that against a team like this, they will perform. These are senior players. If they’re not delivering for you, then why not play the juniors sitting on the bench? What’s the big difference anyway?”

In their third group stage game between India and Pakistan, the former was tasked to bat first after losing the toss. Despite losing the toss, the Indian team posted a good-looking total of 175/7 in 20 overs.

Opening batter Ishan Kishan was the top player, scoring 77 runs off 40 balls with 10 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 192.5 on a slow wicket. In the chase, Pakistan got bundled out for 114 runs in 18 overs. Usman Khan was the top scorer with 44 runs in 34 balls. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy pocketed two wickets each.

With this win, India qualified for the Super 8 stage, having topped the Group A standings. Pakistan slid to the third position, with the USA securing the second position with four points each.

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