They are the best we have, we have to continue to support them: Afridi after Pakistan’s 3-0 defeat to England

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has supported the embattled national team after they were shut out by a second England team in the ODI series.

Afridi, one of the most popular Pakistani cricketers, said in a video message shared by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s media department that it was necessary to keep players motivated and hungry for success.

“We need to support players in tough times, as a cricket fan and former player,” he said a day after the Shahid Afridi Foundation signed another two-year contract with the PCB to be their charitable partner.

Afridi, who represented Pakistan in 27 events, 398 ODI and 99 T20I in a 20-year international career, felt that players need support from fans and critics when they are depressed after a poor performance.

“Today the players representing the Pakistan team are the best we have in terms of talent and ability. These players have been performing consistently as of late, in fact, some of them have been performing for a considerable period of time.

“These are our best players, they are the ones whose talents we have to use. We need to keep them motivated and hungry for success. We need to support players in tough times, as a cricket fan and former player.

“I can accept that the team loses as long as they fight on the field. I feel like cricket has changed a lot in the last few years. Now the attack is the best defense and there is no way to succeed other than playing with the intention of attack ”, especially in the cue ball formats.

Afridi noted that Pakistani players are good at attacking or blocking and a middle way may need to be found, especially in the ODI format.

Afridi also felt that the current Pakistan team had the potential to match the exploits of the 2009 team led by Younis Khan that won the T20 World Cup in England in 2009.

He said he felt this because the T20 World Cup is taking place in the United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan has played a lot of successful cricket against some of the world’s leading teams.

“In the UAE, we have a very good record and we have done very well against some of the best teams and that bodes well for the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup. Spinners and batters will have a prominent role to play in the UAE conditions.