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Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors, questioning their decision to drop Shaheen Afridi from the ODI squad for the upcoming New Zealand series.
Afridi, ranked ninth in the ICC ODI bowler rankings, has been a key figure in Pakistan’s pace attack for years. However, following a poor ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, the selectors opted to exclude him from the three-match ODI series against the Kiwis, sparking massive debate.
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Hafeez Questions Shaheen Afridi’s Exclusion
Hafeez has expressed concern over Afridi’s exclusion, especially after he was previously dropped from the Test squad under the pretext of “rest.” The former Pakistan all-rounder questioned what role Afridi now plays in the national team if he is being systematically sidelined from all formats.
“First, Shaheen Afridi is dropped from the Test squad, and the reason given is that he is being rested. But Shaheen himself says, ‘I am not resting; I have been dropped.’” Hafeez said, as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
“Yes, he hasn’t been performing well in ODIs, and failure is a different issue, but this is not the right approach. First, he was removed from Tests, then from ODIs—so what exactly is Shaheen Afridi’s role now?” he added.
Shaheen Afridi’s ODI Snub After Poor Champions Trophy Campaign
Afridi’s exclusion comes after a disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he failed to make an impact. His performances included:
- 0/68 in 10 overs against New Zealand in Karachi, with an economy rate of 6.80.
- 2/72 in 8 overs against India in Dubai, conceding runs at a 9.25 economy rate.
The PCB recently announced Pakistan’s squads for the New Zealand tour (March 16 – April 5), making several high-profile changes. While Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf were omitted from the ODI squad, he managed to retain his place in the T20I squad for the five-match series. Meanwhile, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been rested from the T20I squad.
Shoaib Akhtar’s Criticism and Hafeez’s Response
The controversy doesn’t end with Afridi’s exclusion. Recently, Shoaib Akhtar claimed that Pakistan cricket is struggling because it lacks strong role models for the next generation.
Hafeez, however, fired back at Akhtar’s comments, criticizing Pakistan’s 1990s cricket legends for failing to leave behind a lasting legacy.
“I am a huge fan of those who played in the 1990s, but when it comes to legacy, they left nothing for Pakistan. They didn’t win an ICC event. As stars, as players, they were mega superstars. But they couldn’t inspire us by winning an ICC event,” Hafeez said on PTV Sports’ Game On Hai show.
“People idolize Babar Azam today, and that is because even if he didn’t play a big hand in our 2017 Champions Trophy victory, he was there. The superstars of the 1990s, with all due respect to their talents, failed to do that.”
What’s Next for Shaheen Afridi?
With Afridi now limited to T20I duties for the New Zealand series, questions remain over his future in Pakistan’s ODI and Test setup. Will the PCB and team management work on reviving his form, or is this the beginning of the end for one of Pakistan’s finest pacers?
For now, Afridi’s exclusion remains a major talking point, and Hafeez’s explosive comments have only added fuel to the fire.
