‘What will you even do with 50 lakhs?’:Shahid Afridi rips PCB, demands strict actions against Pakistan; says, ‘Doesn’t sound like penalty’

Pakistan’s disappointing run in the 2026 T20 World Cup has reportedly led to strict action from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to various media reports, all members of Pakistan’s squad have been fined after yet another early exit from an ICC tournament. Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi rips the PCB and wants strict action against Team Pakistan. This is the fourth consecutive time that Pakistan have failed to reach at least the semifinal stage in a global event. The team was knocked out in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, which was a major setback for fans and former players. Soon after the exit, reports claimed that the PCB imposed financial penalties of ₹50 lakhs Pakistani rupee which is near around ₹16.28 lakhs (Indian rupee) on the players. However, the board has not yet officially confirmed or addressed these reports. Shahid Afridi raises questions on the penalty by PCB Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi reacted strongly to the reports. Speaking to Samaa TV, Afridi said he was surprised by the news, not because the players were fined, but because he believed the punishment was too small. “This is a decision that’s hard to understand. That’s narrow-minded thinking. This is a small amount. What will you even do with 50 lakhs? It doesn’t even sound like a penalty,” he said. Afridi wants strict actions against Pakistan for poor performance Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi suggested that stricter action should have been taken against underperforming players. According to him, some players should be sent back to domestic cricket to improve their game. “Players who did not perform, send them to first-class cricket. There are some players, I feel, who shouldn’t be in the team for at least two years. That’s enough,” he added. His comments reflect the frustration among former cricketers and fans after another disappointing ICC campaign. INR 16.28 lakh fine for poor performance in T20 wc 2026 As per media reports, each player has been fined PKR 50 lakh. The fine was not related to any disciplinary issue but was reportedly imposed purely because of poor performance in the tournament. It is said that the decision was taken immediately after Pakistan’s 61-run loss to India in the group stage. The reports also mentioned that the penalty would have been waived if the team had reached the semifinal stage. Despite moving into the Super 8 round, Pakistan struggled in the second phase of the tournament. A washed-out match against New Zealand and a defeat to England put them under pressure. Although they won their final match against Sri Lanka, the victory margin was not big enough to overtake New Zealand’s net run rate. As a result, Pakistan were eliminated from the competition. Waiting for official confirmation by PCB At the moment, the PCB has not released any official statement regarding the reported fines. It remains to be seen whether the board will confirm or clarify the situation in the coming days. For now, Pakistan cricket once again finds itself under heavy criticism. With four straight failures in ICC tournaments, questions are being raised about team selection, planning and overall performance.