‘Newer guys aren’t performing’ – Shahid Afridi makes huge remark on Shoaib Malik’s snub from Pakistan’s 20-20 World Cup squad
The eighth edition 20-20 World Cup will commence on October 16, Sunday, in Australia, and the T20I carnival is set to get underway for the coming for the next month for the first time in the island nation. For Pakistan, this will be their chance to make amends for their final loss in the Asia Cup 2022 and a 4-3 series loss at home against England.
Veteran allrounder Shoaib Malik, who was expected to make a comeback to the national team and resolve Pakistan’s middle-order woes, was snubbed from the 20-20 World Cup squad selection, and seemingly, this has not gone down well with his former teammate. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said that the “old ones” are remembered only when the younger players are not performing.
“Ham naye ladke ko chance dete hain. Vo perform nahi kar paate toh puraane yaad aane lagte hain. Logon ko Shoaib Malik kyun yaad aata hai? Isliye kyunki koi perform nahi kar raha hota aur fir vo hi hamein achha lag raha hota hai. (We give chances to new people, and when they don’t perform, we start remembering the old ones. Why are people remembering Shoaib Malik? It’s because the newer guys aren’t performing),” said Afridi on Samaa TV.
People also tell me that I can still play for Pakistan: Afridi
It is no secret that Men in Green lack a reliable middle-order batter, who can provide stability and also score runs at a good rate with consistency; someone of Malik’s calibre. The current middle-order of Iftikhar Ahmed, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and co. look brittle, making the side heavily reliant on their top order. But it seems clear that the Pakistan management has looked past the 40-year-old, following his exclusion from the 20-20 World Cup squad.
“Mere baare me logon ki rai thi ki Lala aap abhi bhi khel sakte hain. Par main bol deta hu ki bas, ho gaya hai. (People also tell me that I can still play for Pakistan. But for me, that chapter is over),” said the former Pakistan skipper.
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