Shaheen Afridi eyes Champions Trophy glory after T20 World Cup disaster; aims for swift redemption

After Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam, star speedster Shaheen Afridi admitted that they didn’t play good cricket but urged the fans to keep supporting and loving them after they crashed out of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after group stages.

Pakistan's disappointing journey in the T20 World Cup 2024 came to an abrupt end as they failed to advance to the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The team faced unexpected setbacks, starting with a thrilling super-over loss to the USA, followed by a crucial defeat against arch-rivals India.

Pakistan's ICC T20 World Cup 2024 campaign ends on a disappointing note

Despite managing a victory over Canada, Pakistan's overall performance was just overwhelming, particularly in enhancing their net run rate, which proved decisive in their bid to progress further in the tournament.

The inability of the Men in Green to capitalize on opportunities and put up a cohesive performance left them trailing in the Group A standings of the T20 World Cup 2024. The crucial turning point came when the USA and Ireland's Group A match was washed out due to poor weather, resulting in both teams sharing points.

This outcome favored the USA and went against the Pakistan team, as this one point took them to the Super 8s of the tournament. However, the USA's spirited performance during the group stage played a major role in them earning a spot in the Super-8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

After defeating Canada and upsetting Pakistan, the USA displayed resilience in their match against India, although they ultimately suffered defeat, but then the washed-out game against Ireland earned them that one crucial point.

Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi played a key role in Pakistan’s three-wicket win over Ireland in their last match of the tournament. Afridi finished with impressive figures of 3/22 in his quota of 4 overs and then played a quick cameo of 13 runs off 5 balls to win the Play of the Match award.

Shaheen Afridi calls for improvement after Pakistan's early T20 World Cup 2024 exit

After the match, Afridi said that Pakistan didn’t play good cricket, and that’s why they are now returning home from the T20 World Cup 2024 with only disappointment, but stressed that they have to correct all the shortcomings ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy next year.

Shaheen Afridi said at the post-match presentation: “We didn’t play good cricket which our country demands. There are few areas we need to improve quickly, the Champions Trophy is coming. We have to improve and we’ll have to grow as a team. Crowd – they always come and support us, thank you everyone for the support. It’s tough times but they always come and support us, that’s what we need as a team.”

Earlier, the Pakistani pacer said on the YouTube channel Crickwick that if fans stop supporting the team during their tough time, then there is no difference between them and the media.

Afridi had said: “Everyone supports you in good times, but I’ve always said that fans must support us in tough times. If you can’t support us during these times, you’re just like the media.”