'Shaheen Afridi doesn’t deserve a place in the T20I team' - Rashid Latif makes huge claim
Published - 20 Mar 2026, 11:21 AM
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif slammed ODI skipper Shaheen Afridi following the series loss against Bangladesh in an away series. Rashid Latif questioned the current form of Shaheen Afridi, adding that the left-arm fast bowler no longer warrants a spot in the playing XI of the national cricket team.
The comments came just days after former Pakistan national cricket team skipper Shahid Afridi slammed the national selectors. The selection committee faced heavy criticism following a humiliating 2-1 One Day International series defeat against the Bangladesh national cricket team in Dhaka last week.
Shaheen Afridi Does Not Deserve a Place in Pakistan’s T20I Team - Rashid Latif
After the Bangladesh series loss, several fans and cricket pundits suggested that Shaheen Afridi should step down from the ODI captaincy and replace Salman Ali Agha as the T20I skipper. However, Rashid Latif stated that the fast bowler must first earn his place in the playing XI.
“Now everyone is saying that Shaheen should not be the ODI captain. He shouldn't even be in the T20I team. People are now saying that he should become the captain of the T20I side after the World Cup debacle,” Latif said.
“Yes, he should have been earlier, but now he doesn't deserve a place in the T20I team. People are running a campaign to have him be the captain of the T20I team instead of ODIs. He doesn't even deserve a place. Now, the time is over,” he added.
Shaheen Afridi’s Struggles in ICC T20 World Cup 2026
The 25-year-old fast bowler endured a miserable T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. Shaheen Afridi leaked 31 runs in two overs against the India national cricket team. The team management dropped him for the subsequent group-stage match against the Namibia national cricket team.
Shaheen faced intense scrutiny during the Super 8s stage. Dasun Shanaka smashed him for one boundary and three sixes during the final over against the Sri Lanka national cricket team. Earlier in the tournament, he returned poor figures of one wicket for 42 runs against the United States.
Since the 2022 tournament, Shaheen has struggled to find swing and has leaked runs across formats. His inability to strike during the powerplay overs has put heavy pressure on the rest of the Pakistan bowling attack.
Shaheen Afridi Under Pressure Ahead of PSL 2026
The left-arm pacer carried his poor form into the recent bilateral series against Bangladesh. Afridi picked up four wickets across three matches but lacked his usual impact. He repeatedly failed to secure early breakthroughs in the top order.
During the series decider in Dhaka, Afridi tried to salvage the match with the bat. He scored a gritty 37-run knock, but the Pakistan national cricket team fell 11 runs short. He will next lead Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League, starting on March 26.
The upcoming PSL season is a crucial test for the fast bowler. Afridi must rediscover his yorkers and wicket-taking ability. Strong domestic performances will be vital to silence growing criticism from former players like Rashid Latif and fans.
Also read: Ottniel Baartman set to ditch PSL team as lucrative IPL deal shakes things up
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Rashid Latif Shaheen Afridi Salman Ali Agha Pakistan National Cricket Team PCB PSL Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)About the Author
Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
