Pakistan’s under-fire all-rounder Shahid Afridi lashed out at critics during a press conference Friday on the eve of the first Twenty20 that pits a Pakistan All Stars XI against an International World XI side.

Afridi will be leading the Pakistan All Stars in what is the first international action of sorts since the Sri Lanka team was attacked in 2009

At the pre-match conference, Afridi took time out to take a swipe at the ‘experts’ and, in an apparent jab at tainted former skipper Salman Butt, demanded the media to hire people of a ‘clean background’ only.

“The player who has stained the name of the country in the world and has devastated a great talent such as Mohammad Amir should be shameful of even coming in front of the nation. Media houses should hire people with a clean background so that such "experts" will not have any weight when they speak,” Afridi told reporters after Butt was seen giving his views on a TV show a few days ago.

Butt had criticized Afridi for his below par performance during the World T20.

Afridi defended his slump, terming it a ‘bad patch’ that all cricketers go through.

“There isn’t a single cricketer who does not experience a dip in form. I have worked hard during this period but sometimes it is just difficult to come out of a bad patch.”

“But I don’t run away from challenges and I am a fighter and I will come out of it,” he said.

He rubbished the reports of an ODI retirement but added that he will not stick around if he feels he is a liability on the team.

Meanwhile, Afridi reserved special praise for the visiting World XI side, which comprises of players from Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa and Afghanistan.

He also lauded the efforts of Sindh Sports Minister Dr MA Shah for making the event possible and hoped it would be a step forward for the return of international cricket to Pakistan.