New Delhi: Former Pakistan all-rounder… Shahid Afridi After the national team lost the ODI series 2-1, Pakistan’s cricket selectors have been heavily criticized. Bangladesh national cricket team. The defeat comes shortly after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, putting pressure on the team’s management and decision-makers.Bangladesh won the series by 11 runs in the decisive match played at Sher Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
Afridi openly blames the Pakistan Selection Committee.
After the defeat, Afridi openly blamed the selection committee for the team’s struggles. Speaking in a video shared on social media, he questioned his decisions and leadership.
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Afridi said, “You saw the performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series by 2-1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you have not come up with the idea of which format should be the captain.”He also criticized what he called excessive experimentation with young players. He added that ‘you keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first-class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of a quality to consistently produce players who are ready to earn a place in the Pakistan team.”Afridi further claimed that experienced players with good records in ODIs were unfairly sidelined. Although he did not mention any names, it is somewhat clear that he was referring to players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman who were dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the Bangladesh series. “Senior players who actually deserved their place even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances, they had a very good record in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined these veteran players despite their solid ODI performances,” he said.He concluded by arguing that the selectors’ strategy lacked direction and could destabilize the team. “Instead, you bring in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first-class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and make their place. You keep giving Pakistan caps again and again, this is not a surgery. If anything, the actual surgery should be done on the selection committee,” he said.
Bangladesh beat Pakistan to win the three-match series 2-1
Batting first, Bangladesh scored 290 runs for 5 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. The innings started with an opening stand between Saif Hasan and Tanzeed Hasan. While Saif scored 36 runs, Tanzid was brilliant with his maiden ODI century, hitting 107 runs with six fours and seven sixes. Later, a partnership from Litan Das (41) and Tawheed Hardoy’s unbeaten 48 helped Bangladesh reach a competitive total.Pakistan’s chase got off to a rough start as both openers were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving the team at 2 for 2. Despite the early setback, Salman Ali Agha bounced back with a brilliant century of 106 off 98 balls to keep Pakistan in the contest. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 37 runs while debutants Saad Masood (38) and Ghazi Ghori (29) showed some promise. Abdul Samad also scored 34 runs, but Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 279 runs.Bangladesh’s bowling played a key role in sealing the victory. Tasin Ahmad took four wickets while Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets. Earlier in the match, Pakistan bowler Haris Rauf was the most successful for his team, who took three wickets.
