Afridi 'not happy' with Shaheen after Pakistan's defeat to Australia

Shahid Afridi has slammed Shaheen Shah Afridi for the role he played in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup semi-final defeat vs Australia.

Pakistan were firm favourites going into the match in Dubai after comfortably winning all five of their Super 12 matches against India, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Scotland and Namibia. 

And they would’ve fancied their chances of progressing to Sunday’s final against New Zealand after scoring an above par 176-4 off their 20 overs. 

Wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan top scored for Pakistan with a fine 67 off 52 balls despite spending time in hospital with a chest infection in the days leading up to the match, while Babar Azam (39 of 35 balls) and Fakhar Zahman (55 off 32 balls) also chipped in with important runs. 

Australia got their reply off to the worst possible start when Shaheen trapped danger man Aaron Finch LBW in the very first over, but a fightback led by David Warner (49 off 30 balls) and Mitch Marsh (28 off 22 balls) gave them hope. 

The rate climbed to 12 runs an over when Glenn Maxwell held out to Haris Rauf in the deep off leg-spinner Shadab Khan in the 13th over of the chase.

However, an incredible counter-attack from Marcus Stoinis (40 off 31 balls) and Matthew Wade (41 off 17 balls), who finished the game off by hitting three consecutive sixes off the bowling of Shaheen, guided the Aussies home with an over to spare. 

Hasan Ali has been at the centre of a lot of the criticism following the defeat after his four wicketless overs went for 44 runs, while also dropping Wade shortly before his late onslaught. 

However, legendary all-rounder Shahid believes that Shaheen should also be to blame for their exit. 

‘I’m not happy with Shaheen. Just because Hassan Ali dropped a catch shouldn’t mean in the next over you get hit for three sixes,’ he said.

‘He has so much pace & should’ve had the sense to bowl outside the off-stump yorkers, but he bowled into Wade’s preferred area.’

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