Shahid Afridi reacts to Pakistan’s performance against India in Asia Cup 2025, criticises the team and his son-in-law Shaheen Afridi

Pakistan’s dismal showing against India in the Asia Cup 2025 was quickly taken over by the “no-handshake” controversy. After the match, the Indian players’ refusal to shake hands with their rivals dominated headlines, pushing aside discussions on the quality difference between the two sides. However, former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi was not prepared to overlook what he witnessed from Salman Agha’s team in Dubai. Speaking on a Pakistani TV channel, Afridi even criticised his own son-in-law, Shaheen Afridi, for his lacklustre bowling.

Shaheen failed to make an impact with the ball but struck a rapid 33 off just 16 deliveries, ensuring Pakistan at least crossed the 100-run mark. Shahid mentioned that without those runs, the team might have been bowled out below a 100-run mark. Still, he expressed disappointment at Shaheen’s overall contribution, stressing that his main role is to take wickets and urging him to adopt psychological tactics to unsettle opponents.

“Shaheen managed to add some runs, which pushed our total past 100, but that’s not what I expect from him. His main job is bowling, not batting. From someone like Saim Ayub, I want runs, but from Shaheen, I want wickets. He needs to realise that his role is to swing the new ball and take wickets. His focus should stay on executing that plan,” Shahid Afridi told Samaa TV.