In a recent turn of events, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Atiq-uz-Zaman has criticized star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi for reportedly misbehaving with Pakistan’s batting coach Mohammad Yousuf. The incident allegedly occurred during Pakistan’s UK tour for the white-ball series against England and Ireland, leading up to the T20 World Cup 2024.
Controversy Ahead of T20 World Cup 2024
According to reports from Geo News, Shaheen Shah Afridi had a dispute with Mohammad Yousuf during training sessions and missed key team discussions before significant matches. This controversy has attracted considerable attention, especially given Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where they failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage.
Atiq-uz-Zaman’s Criticism
Atiq-uz-Zaman has come forward in support of Mohammad Yousuf, emphasizing the importance of respect and discipline within the team. He criticized Afridi for his alleged behavior and highlighted the significance of Yousuf’s role as a coach.
“Yousuf is part of the team. If they’re given responsibility for the nets, they can advise bowlers. The no-ball issue is significant. If you bowl no-balls in the nets, it becomes a habit. I’ve seen that players who bowl no-balls in practice do so in matches as well,” said Atiq-uz-Zaman.
Respect for Seniors
Atiq-uz-Zaman underscored the importance of respecting senior players and coaches, emphasizing that Mohammad Yousuf’s stature in cricket is far greater than Shaheen Shah Afridi’s.
“So, if Mohammad Yousuf bhai said that, Shaheen Afridi shouldn’t have made the comments he did. I’m not sure if he made them or not, as these are just rumors. If he did, I’m really disappointed because Yousuf Bhai is a bigger name than Shaheen Afridi. So he got to understand that there is something called respect. If the coach instructs you, you should just put your head down and try not to bowl no-ball in the nets. The problem’s sorted,” Atiq-uz-Zaman added.
Upcoming Test Series Against Bangladesh
As Pakistan prepares for their Test series against Bangladesh starting August 21, Shaheen Afridi is expected to be rested due to the birth of his first child. This series will be crucial for Pakistan as they look to bounce back from their recent disappointments.
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