Watch: Babar Azam Left Stumped by Reporter’s Question, Shaheen Afridi Steps Up with Graceful
Shaheen Afridi decided to respond to a journalist's query on Pakistan cricket team.
During a pre-PSL 10 press conference, Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam was briefly left speechless when a journalist questioned the national team's repeated struggles to chase down targets above 200 in T20 cricket. Flanked by white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan and pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, Babar found himself in the hot seat.
“No doubt, the nation’s morale is low right now. But where exactly are we falling short? Is it a mindset issue or a lack of intent? Because every time a team scores over 200, we seem to panic and fall short. Babar, your thoughts?” the journalist asked.
Caught off guard, Babar looked to Rizwan for help, but the skipper too remained silent.
In a moment that could’ve turned awkward, Shaheen Afridi stepped up confidently to address the question on behalf of his teammates.
“This is our team—it’s Pakistan’s team,” Shaheen said. “When we talk about chasing 200, we must remember it’s not only the batters’ responsibility. The bowlers also need to ensure we’re not conceding that many. The pitches today are batter-friendly. If we do give up 200, we have to fight just as hard to chase it.
Likewise, it’s on us to defend those totals when needed. We’re a team, a family. And when things don’t go right, it’s our collective duty to bring Pakistan cricket back on track.”
Shaheen’s composed and thoughtful response earned widespread admiration from fans and media, standing out as a moment of maturity and leadership.
The press conference came amid a turbulent time for Pakistan cricket. Under Rizwan’s leadership, the team crashed out in the group stage of the Champions Trophy after defeats to New Zealand and India. That was followed by a challenging white-ball tour of New Zealand, where Pakistan suffered a 4-1 loss in the T20Is and a 3-0 whitewash in the ODIs—despite the return of senior players Babar and Rizwan.
In response to these setbacks, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shifted its focus toward rebuilding with long-term goals in mind, aiming to bounce back ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 and ODI World Cup 2027.
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