Pakistan triumphed over Namibia by 102 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026, with Shadab scoring an impressive unbeaten 36 off 22 balls and achieving figures of 3-19 to secure a place in the Super Eights.
During the post-match press conference, he responded to critics such as Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf, who suggested that he and others should be dropped following a defeat to India, asserting that these former players never succeeded against India in ICC tournaments despite their esteemed reputations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a firm warning through team manager Naveed Cheema regarding the inappropriateness of mocking legends, including his father-in-law Saqlain Mushtaq, and reports indicate that Shadab may be sidelined for the match against New Zealand.
Afridi retorted by attributing the current team’s problems to internal issues, while Ahmed Shehzad dismissed Shadab’s statistics as merely padding against weaker opponents.
PCB dissatisfied with Shadab Khan
Currently, the PCB has expressed its dissatisfaction with Shadab Khan concerning his post-match comments that belittled former players, advising the all-rounder to be mindful of his language during the ongoing World Cup, as reported by sources to Telecom Asia Sport.
“Naveed Cheema has reached out to inform Shadab that he overstepped his bounds during the press conference on Wednesday night. Shadab must recognize that all former players, including his father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq, are to be respected as they are greats of Pakistan. He should show them the respect they deserve and refrain from using such language,” sources have stated.
The report further noted that Cheema has been directed to remind other players to limit their comments to match-related topics and avoid crossing the line, with the warning that failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.
Former player Kamran Akmal remarked that Shadab’s comments were unwarranted. “Using such language against former players requires caution,” Kamran was quoted as saying.
