"We Have to Win" — Shaheen Afridi Fires Back at Critics Defending Pakistan's Spin-Friendly Pitches

LAHORE — Pakistan white-ball captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has hit back at critics questioning the nature of the pitches used during the recently concluded bilateral series against Australia, stating firmly that exploiting home conditions is a global standard practice.

The debate sparked up after Pakistan opted for slow, spin-friendly tracks in Rawalpindi and Lahore. While the strategy helped the hosts secure a hard-fought 2-1 ODI series victory over the Aussies, many pundits and fans questioned whether playing on low-scoring turning tracks prepares the team for the bouncy, pace-heavy conditions expected at the 2027 ODI World Cup in Southern Africa.

Speaking at the post-match press conference after clinching the decider in Lahore, a resilient Shaheen Afridi dismissed the pushback, emphasizing that immediate international survival and winning take priority over experimental preparation.

"Every team prepares pitches that suit them when they play in their own backyard to win," Shaheen stated. "We played on green and bouncy pitches when we went to Australia under Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy, and we won that series. You cannot offer them green wickets when they come here because we have to win."

Navigating the Road to the 2027 World Cup

With roughly 15 months left before the mega event in Africa, cricket purists argue that Pakistan's batters risk looking completely clueless against elite pace units if they remain overly dependent on local dust-bowls. Even during this series, local batsmen found it incredibly difficult to navigate the turning ball smoothly until the dew factor kicked in during the second innings.

Addressing these long-term developmental concerns, Shaheen clarified that the team is not blind to the upcoming challenges but insists there is ample time to adapt.

"These were tough wickets, and scoring runs or spending time on them was not easy. We have time on our hands before the World Cup, and we will prepare pitches of different characteristics as well in the build-up," the skipper added, hinting that simulated tracking and varied pitches will be introduced during upcoming training camps.

 

Protecting the Core: A Plea for Senior Players

The series-clinching win also saw Shaheen lose patience with the local media's constant scrutiny of senior players like Babar Azam. Babar played a vital, gritty knock of 40 on a heavily cracked Gaddafi Stadium deck to guide Pakistan through a tricky 158-run chase.

"I have a request for you all. You always speak about the seniors not performing. When they do, you ask, 'Why have you performed?' Just let them be," Shaheen urged. "If you remove seniors from the side, how will you build up the juniors? Even the best player in the world will only do well in 3 to 4 games out of 10. No one can do well in all ten games, so just give everyone a chance."

For now, Pakistan walks away with a crucial series victory against a heavyweight side. However, as the cricket calendar shifts toward fast-approaching away tours in England and the West Indies, the balance between immediate home dominance and strategic global preparation will remain a razor-sharp tightrope for Pakistan Cricket.