PAK vs NZ: "Team Needs Support When We Lose"- Shaheen Afridi Hits Back At Ex-Pakistan Cricketers

Pakistani Pacer Shaheen Afridi did not mince words after Pakistan advanced to the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Pakistan rallied from the verge of defeat to set up an entertaining match against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In the match against Bangladesh, Shaheen was named Player of the Match (POTM).

By making it to the semifinals of the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Pakistan cricket team wrote a new chapter in their remarkable cricket history. The Babar Azam-led club made an incredible run considering they were about to be eliminated after losing their first two games.

The Men in Green suffered a severe setback when Zimbabwe defeated them by one run at the Optus Stadium in Perth, following a sad loss to Team India in the tournament’s opening match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). But the 2009 winners finished an incredible comeback by triumphing in three straight matches against Bangladesh, South Africa, and the Netherlands.

Pakistan entered the match against Bangladesh knowing that a win would advance them to the semifinals following Netherlands’ unexpected victory over South Africa. With a spectacular four-wicket haul that earned him Player of the Match (POTM) honors, Shaheen Afridi stole the show.

“We won because of the fans’ prayers and their support”: Shaheen Afridi

In the post-game press conference, Shaheen Afridi criticized former Pakistan cricket players and pleaded with them to back the squad even when they were losing. If they win the semifinal and championship, as per Shaheen, it will be simple to support them.

The Pakistani pacer, though, acknowledged the support of the crowd and claimed that it was the cause of their advancement to the knockout rounds.

Shaheen Shah : Jo hamaray Top cricketers Hain unko chaia mushkil time mai Team ko support karay? pic.twitter.com/aYuEznetZX

— Shizza~♪ (@shizzapizzaa) November 6, 2022

“We reached the semi-finals because of fans’ prayers. I sometimes feel in my heart that our top cricketers need to support us at our difficult times, and not when we reach the semi-finals or finals. The team needs support when we lose. We won because of the fans’ prayers and their support,” said Shaheen Afridi.

In the opening semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pakistan will take on New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, November 10. Shaheen has claimed eight wickets in the subsequent three games after failing to claim a single one in the first two games.

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