The Pakistan cricket team star Shadab Khan created a controversy on Wednesday when he mocked former players who criticized the current team after their 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup 2026. Shadab stated through Pakistan media that former crickers hold their own views because they were legendary players who failed to achieve what our team has accomplished through our World Cup victory against India. Shadab was referring to the fact that Pakistan’s only win against India at a World Cup came in 2021, at the T20 World Cup. He was part of Pakistan’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown its dissatisfaction with Shadab Khan’s post-match statements which he made about former players through his public statements. The board has told Shadab to control his speaking behavior for the ongoing World Cup according to sources who spoke to Telecom Asia Sport and IANS news agency.
Shadab made the statement after scoring a 22-ball 36 and taking 3-13 during Pakistan’s 102-run victory over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday. The PCB team manager Naveed Cheema instructed the all-rounder not to speak badly about former players who achieved greatness in their careers.
Naveed Cheema has called to convey to Shadab that he was out of his limits in the press conference on Wednesday night. Shadab should know that all former players – including his father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq – are respectable and are greats of Pakistan. Shadab should respect them and should not use such language,” sources told Telecom Asia Sport, according to IANS.
The report added that Cheema has also been instructed to advise other players to restrict their comments to the match and not cross the line, failing which action will be taken
Former player Kamran Akmal said Shadab’s comments were unnecessary. “Saying such words against former players warrants caution,” Kamran was quoted as saying.
Pakistan team management maintains strict control over player participation in pre- and post-match activities. They did not provide any players for two days before the all-important India match.
When Usman Tariq arrived for Namibia’s pre-match media interaction, the media manager stopped him from answering a question on why he was used late in the India match, having been introduced in the 11th over. “Tariq will not answer this as head coach Mike Hesson has already responded to this question after the India game,” media manager Naeem Gillani was quoted as saying.
Pakistan will play their first Super Eight match against New Zealand on Saturday in Colombo. They also face England in Pallekele on February 24 and Sri Lanka at the same venue four days later.
