Pakistan drop Shaheen Afridi for must-win T20 World Cup clash with Namibia

In Colombo, Pakistan line up for a must-win T20 World Cup clash with Namibia with two changes to the XI. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed are left out, while Salman Mirza and Khawaja Nafay come into the squad. The team, led by Salman Ali Agha, won the toss and chose to bat at the Sinhalese Sports Club as they look to stay alive in the Super 8s. This move follows a string of rough results and mounting scrutiny of senior players.

Pakistan entered the match needing a victory to keep their hopes of progressing, after a 61-run loss to India and setbacks in earlier fixtures. Senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have faced criticism for form, with Shaheen struggling for control while Babar has found spin challenging. The two changes were made from the XI that faced India, with Mirza and Nafay added to bolster the batting and middle-order options as Pakistan seeks momentum.

Namibia, already out of contention, are aiming to finish their campaign on a positive note. They’ve also made two changes, bringing in Alexander Busing-Volschenk for Dylan Leicher and Jack Brassell for Max Heingo. Namibia’s campaign has been hampered by inconsistent bowling and modest batting returns from captain Gerhard Erasmus, but a win here would provide a glimmer of pride in a tough tournament.

Looking at Shaheen’s form, he bowled two overs for 31 against India and has gone wicketless across the tournament’s three matches, conceding 101 runs at an economy of 11.22. Pakistan’s decision to bench him signals a shift in focus toward a more balanced attack as they attempt to salvage their campaign. If they can post a competitive total or defend well, they can breathe life into a group that has tested their resolve and kept fans watching closely.

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