"It's not easy": Pakistan head coach's blames captain Shaheen Afridi after losing series vs Bangladesh

Defeat against Bangladesh days after elimination from the T20 World Cup 2026. The Pakistan cricket team is in deep trouble. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named different captains for different formats, but the result remains unchanged.

PCB named Shaheen Afridi as the skipper of the ODI team to take on Bangladesh. In the T20 World Cup 2026, Salman Ali Agha was the captain. In both competitions, Pakistan was ruled out of claiming the trophy.

Should Shaheen Afridi be removed from captaincy?

Did Shaheen Afridi make mistakes against Bangladesh as a captain? The question was asked in Dhaka, after the 3^rd of the three-match ODI series, to the head coach of the Men’s Pakistan cricket team, Mike Hesson. Hesson backed Afridi in his response.

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The Mohsin Naqvi-led cricket board selected a fresh squad with multiple emerging, uncapped cricketers to face Bangladesh. The board tried to create a balanced squad with a blend of young and experienced players. On paper, the plan might have sounded fascinating, but the reality proved hard to handle for the team. With a new-look team, the Pakistan cricket team got a reality check, again.

Pakistan's head coach issued massive statements on Shaheen Afridi

Mike Hesson said that Shaheen Afridi did a decent job as the leader of the troop, filled with multiple unpolished talents. The coach claimed that Afridi got a very limited amount of time to get to know his team members. Within a short span, Afridi tried to manage the situation in a smart, tactical way.

"I think he's done really well. You know, with the youngsters, as I said, it's not easy. You're getting to know some of these players on the fly a little bit, but he was always positive within the group. When we were down a little bit, he brought the group back up."

Q: Thoughts on Shaheen as a captain?

Mike Hesson: "I think he's done really well. You know, with the youngsters, as I said, it's not easy. You're getting to know some of these players on the fly a little bit, but he was always positive within the group. When we were down a… pic.twitter.com/OQxGiQRghP

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) March 16, 2026

"I thought tactically he was smart, and his performances with the ball were good as well, especially from a length perspective. He's had a good series," the head coach of the Pakistan cricket team said about Shaheen Afridi.

After missing the opportunity to register a win in an away series, Afridi himself stated that the young stars fought till the dying moment of the match, and he was proud of what the newcomers did.

Afridi praised the young guns for their efforts vs Bangladesh

“I think that early wickets cost us a little bit, but I'm really proud of the team. They fight till the end, and I think what we need for youngsters, and they fight for till the last ball,” Shaheen Afridi said after the third and the last match of the ODI series vs Bangladesh.

In the match, Bangladesh scored 290 runs, powered by Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s century. For Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha replied with his ton in the match, which was insufficient to win the match, which was a must-win match for both of the teams to win the series as well.

Read More: Mohsin Naqvi gets a vicious reality check, Pakistan cricket to collapse because of inner conflict!