Pakistan likely to drop Babar, Shaheen for T20WC Namibia game after India defeat

Pakistan are likely to drop senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for their next T20 World Cup match against Namibia after the duo failed to deliver in the high-stakes clash against India in Colombo, a reliable team management source told PTI on Monday (February 16).

The source added that Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi conveyed his displeasure over the team’s 61-run defeat to India to team manager Naved Akram Cheema.

"The chairman left the match early at the Premadasa stadium as it became obvious Pakistan were going to face another defeat to India," the source said. He said Naqvi, through a senior PCB official, also conveyed to the manager that such performances in matches that matter were not understandable or acceptable.

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The source said head coach Mike Hesson also spoke to the players in the dressing room and told them that they had not played to their full potential.

“Late at night, the management think tank decided enough was enough and that it would bench Babar and Shaheen, and try out Salman Mirza or Naseem Shah along with Fakhar Zaman against Namibia on Wednesday,” he said.

The source said that if the changes prove to be successful, Babar and Shaheen's World Cup would be over as the management is also keen to try out young Khawaja Nafay in the middle order.

Pakistan cannot afford any slip-up against Namibia if they want to qualify for the super eight phase of the tournament. The team defeated lower-ranked USA and the Netherlands before the heavy loss to India.

(With agency inputs)