Ahmed Shehzad Slams PCB For Allowing Players To Participate In International Leagues

Out-of-favour Pakistani batter Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for allowing Pakistani players to participate in international leagues after a horror show in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. In the ninth edition of the men’s shortest format megaevent, which was played in the West Indies and USA, Pakistan suffered shocking defeats against the USA and India in the first two matches to crash out of the tournament from the group stage itself.

According to 32-year-old Shehzad, who last played for Pakistan in 2019, Pakistani players have no shame, as after failing to perform for the national team, they have asked permission to play in other leagues.

In his tweet on Wednesday evening, the 2009 T20 World Cup winner questioned the PCB’s decision and also inquired about the big surgery promised by the PCB chairman in the aftermath of a poor show in the United States.

“PCB has allowed 12 players to play in leagues around the world after a very disappointing performance in the World Cup. These players have no shame; they did not perform for Pakistan, but now they will play league cricket as usual. Is it correct to do this by PCB?

Where is the big surgery that Chairman PCB promised? Why hasn’t the surgery started yet? According to the report submitted by the manager and head coach, why action has not been taken against the players yet? These players are less interested in playing for Pakistan and only care about league contracts. We refused the contracts of various leagues to play domestic cricket in Pakistan but these players had no shame and asked for permission to play the leagues after a bad World Cup. Shameful act and PCB should ensure that players involved in grouping are removed from the team. These players should have apologized to the nation but they have no remorse and do not care about the feelings of the fans.”

Earlier, Shehzad also slammed Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan for playing religion cards after his recent comments on Islam in a press conference. He lashed out at the top-order batter by asking him which religion teaches players to lie about their fitness and do acting on the field.

“It is really disappointing that some players are hiding their poor performance in the World Cup by holding unnecessary press conferences and playing the religion card. Where does religion go when they lie about their fitness and when they admit they were acting on the field? Does religion teach you to deceive others and lie in the field? You are paid to perform on the field, and you join the team instead. Religion teaches us to fulfil our responsibilities with full determination and not to lie about our suffering. Some spokespeople for these players want them to be given another chance, but why? This is the Pakistan team, and it is not their home team where they can play. If they want another chance, they can make their own team and play with their friends, but not for the Pakistan cricket team anymore.

We will not let PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi forget the big surgery he promised. Some players of the Pakistani team are now even mocking the chairman’s statement because they don’t care. But we will make sure that fans get their answers and action is taken against these players. We have taken a stand, and we will not back down until this Pakistan team is back on the right track,” he wrote in a lengthy post on X.