Shadab Khan reprimanded by PCB for remarks on former Pakistan cricketers

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly reprimanded Shadab Khan for his post-match remarks targeting former players, advising the all-rounder to be mindful of his language during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The criticism came after Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India in the group stage, which triggered sharp reactions from former cricketers. Mohammad Yousuf labelled the current phase as the “darkest period” for Pakistan cricket and suggested senior players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab should step aside.

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Shahid Afridi also urged the selectors to drop senior players, specifically naming Shadab, Babar, and Shaheen, to give younger talent a chance, particularly for the match against Namibia.

Shadab responded after his match-winning performance against Namibia, where he scored 36 off 22 balls and returned figures of 3/13 in Pakistan’s 102-run victory in Colombo.

“Former cricketers have their own opinions. They were legends, but even they could not achieve what we have. We have beaten India in a World Cup,” Shadab said.

According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, team manager Naveed Cheema was instructed by the PCB to warn Shadab about crossing the line in his comments. The board reminded the all-rounder that former players, including his father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq, are respected figures in Pakistani cricket and should not be spoken about harshly.

The report added that other players were also cautioned to keep their public comments measured, with disciplinary action possible if remarks crossed the line.

Saqlain Mushtaq expressed disappointment over Shadab’s comments, calling them “unwanted,” while Kamran Akmal also criticized the remarks, saying such statements against former players warranted caution.

Pakistan’s team management has remained cautious in media interactions throughout the tournament. Players were not made available for media duties in the two days leading up to the India match, and during Namibia’s pre-match press conference, media manager Naeem Gillani stopped Usman Tariq from answering a tactical question, citing that head coach Mike Hesson had already addressed it.

Pakistan will begin their Super Eight campaign against New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday, before facing England in Pallekele on February 24 and Sri Lanka four days later.