Pakistan’s team selections once again became the biggest talking point and this time, it wasn’t just about performance. During their T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Namibia, two of the side’s biggest names — Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi — found themselves in uncomfortable situations that sparked massive debate.
Shaheen Afridi was dropped from the playing XI after a string of poor performances in the format. There had already been reports before the game suggesting that both Shaheen and Babar Azam could be left out. While Shaheen missed the match, Babar retained his place despite struggling for runs in T20 cricket over the past few months.
However, what truly surprised fans was Babar not being sent in to bat at a crucial moment. Usually a top-three batter, he was already demoted to number four for this tournament. Against Namibia, Pakistan were in a solid position at 102/2 in the 13th over when Khawaja Nafay was sent in ahead of him. After Khawaja Nafay fell cheaply, Shadab Khan was promoted over Babar Azam once again. Cameras caught Babar looking visibly concerned in the pavilion and social media quickly picked up on it.
After the match on February 18, Shadab Khan addressed the situation. He made it clear that professional players cannot take such decisions personally and insisted that the team environment is clear and positive. According to him, every player understands their role and is focused only on helping Pakistan win. He also said that with the Super Eights approaching, pressure games are inevitable and players must concentrate on what they can control.
Shadab Khan backed his words with performance, scoring a quick 36 off 22 balls. He also dismissed suggestions that the batting order shuffle was an experiment, saying Pakistan does not randomly experiment and that decisions are made according to conditions and team strategy.
Whether fans agree or not, one thing is certain — Pakistan’s big calls are only getting bolder as the tournament heats up.
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