Our Bureau
New Delhi
Former Pakistan batting great Mohammad Yousuf has called for a radical overhaul of the national T20 squad, declaring “time’s up” for Babar Azam, pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi and all-rounder Shadab Khan after a humiliating 61-run defeat to India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match at R Premadasa Stadium.
Pakistan crumbled to 114 all out in 18 overs while chasing India’s 175/7, intensifying scrutiny on the senior trio’s form and leadership amid mounting calls for fresh blood. Yousuf’s blunt X post, “Time’s up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab, Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides”, has ignited fierce debate in cricket circles, urging selectors to prioritize youth over past glories.
Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 off 40 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes) and Suryakumar Yadav’s 32 off 27 powered India to a daunting total on a spin-friendly pitch. Pakistan’s bowlers, including Shaheen (2-0-31-1), leaked runs after an early promise, while Hardik Pandya (2/16) and Jasprit Bumrah dismantled the chase alongside Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja’s middle-over stranglehold.
Babar, batting at No. 4, fell for 5 off 7 balls to Patel, extending his big-match struggles. Shadab scraped 14 off 15 but leaked 17 runs in his lone over, offering scant all-round impact. Their collective flops underscore deeper issues of adaptability and consistency under pressure, as Yousuf warns against relying on sporadic wins over minnows.
The loss catapults India into the Super 8s and leaves Pakistan’s campaign in tatters, forcing PCB selectors into tough choices on team evolution. Yousuf’s verdict reflects a brewing consensus: Pakistan must embrace dynamic youngsters to salvage T20 relevance, or risk further elite-level embarrassments.
