Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has gone viral numerous times over the course of the 2024 T20 World Cup with his fiery, no-nonsense opinions, and he has capped off the tournament with yet another strong take. While heaving praise on Virat Kohli for his match-winning knock in the T20 World Cup Final vs South Africa, Shehzad said that Kohli cannot be compared to anyone. Shehzad said that comparisons should not be made between Kohli and Pakistan star Babar Azam either.

At first, Shehzad, 32, was asked whether he remembers comparisons made between him and Kohli during their early playing days due to similarity in their appearance. Shehzad admitted that Kohli’s legacy remains incomparable, not only with him, but also with Babar Azam.

Shehzad made a reputation of launching scathing attacks on Babar’s batting and captaincy during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“Comparisons are fine when it comes to appearances, but let’s be honest, Virat Kohli has gone far ahead with his career and records,” said Shehzad, appearing on Bol India News.

“There’s no one like Virat Kohli, let alone me or anyone else. Many like to compare Babar Azam with him, but even those don’t make sense,” said Shehzad.

After a match-winning knock of 76 in the final, Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is. Shehzad said that Indian cricket would find it difficult to replace him.

“In my opinion, Virat Kohli is leaving behind a huge legacy for India and for the rest of the world,” said Shehzad. “Good luck to the Indian cricket team to fill his shoes,” he added.

Despite staring at defeat, as South Africa needed 30 runs in 30 balls, India ended up winning by 7 runs after a superb final bowling effort from Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, to lift a second T20 World Cup title, and the first of Kohli’s career.

Ahmed Shehzad has slammed Mohammad Rizwan for using ‘religion’ as a shield.© AFP

The Pakistan cricket team, its players, and the board remain constant targets of social media attacks. Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 has seen the team being criticised severely by fans and former cricketers. Even some ‘defamation’ statements have been issued against Babar and his team. Amid this ‘targeted campaign’, reports have emerged suggesting ‘legal action’ will be taken against those who have launched an unwarranted attack on Babar Azam & Co. Many YouTubers and former cricketers, who accused Babar of ‘misconduct’ during their campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup, have been issued a warning. Amid such reports, veteran Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shahzad has doubled down his attack at Babar and the Pakistan team.

“Former players that he (Babar) is talking about, they should also file a case on him asking when you had a team for 5 years, where have you brought the team, to the 7th spot,” Shahzad said on a Pakistan TV channel.

Unfazed by the ‘legal threat’, Shahzad said that questions should be asked from Babar over the decisions he made over the last few years that have seen Pakistan lose multiple global events.

“The domestic cricketers whom you didn’t select for the team, you went ahead with one group, kept on saying that this group will win you matches, but that didn’t happen, and those domestic cricketers who didn’t get a chance in the past 5 years, they should also file a case and ask questions. They should also ask Babar how you kept adjusting your friends in the team, who you turn into bowlers when they can’t bat, turn into batsmen when they can’t bowl, and when they do nothing, you adjust them by making them fielders.”

Shahzad even asserted that those players who criticised Babar in the past are now rubbing shoulders in the same team with him.

Then you (Babar) should ask that the people who used to criticize you are now in the team, you are their captain, then your sentiments didn’t get hurt? Then the selectors who 3 months ago used to say that you don’t know captaincy, you are not captaincy material, now you are saying ‘yes yes’ to them, then your sentiments didn’t get hurt? There also you should have filed a case.”

Ahmed Shehzad criticized Babar Azam for filing a defamation case against ex-players. pic.twitter.com/2RgHB5825O

—(@CallMeSheri1) June 22, 2024

It has been said that the PCB’s legal team is looking for ways to reprimand those who defamed Babar and the Pakistan team during the World Cup.

To this, Shahzad retoreted, “After losing 3 World Cups, 2 Asia Cups, you (Babar) were made captain again after 2 months, you should have asked the question how you were made the captain? Is it only you whose sentiments are getting hurt, not of the fans? We always tell the public the truth, we don’t body shame anyone, we don’t even take wrong names, we talk only about cricket, Pakistan cricket. What have you done? You always try to find an escape route.”

“Even great players like Messi and Ronaldo, who have a huge fan following, are criticized. Even the effigies of Messi were burnt recently, shoes were hurled at their photos. But they are sportsmen, they take all this in their stride. You should also take the criticism positively, but instead you are saying you will file defamation cases against former cricketers. We were also criticized, so much that we didn’t get the third match after two bad matches. We didn’t say anything to anyone. You get paid to do well. Even the cameraman here has a job to do, even if he doesn’t do it properly, he is also answerable,” Shahzad concluded.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is likely to take legal action against YouTubers and former cricketers who accused him of ‘misconduct’ during their campaign in the ongoing T20 World Cup, Geo News reported, citing sources. Babar and the Pakistan team were on the receiving end of criticism from former players and fans because of their World Cup campaign. Sources informed Geo News that during Pakistan’s campaign, a social media campaign was used to “target” Babar, which made him feel “disheartened.”

It was also reported that evidence related to statements made by YouTubers and former cricketers is being collected by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s legal department.

Some of the players and the officials arrived at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport via a private airline flight in the early hours of Wednesday.

The players who returned included Naseem Shah, Usman Khan, and senior manager Wahab Riaz. But, some of the players from the 15-member squad decided to extend their stay in the United States after their shocking early exit from the tournament.

Babar, along with Imad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Azam Khan, are expected to depart on Saturday.

Ahemd Shehzad, a former teammate of Babar at international and domestic level, has been critical of the Pakistan captain ever since the team crashed out of the T20 World Cup.

After featuring in the finals against England in the last edition of the competition, Pakistan crashed out of the ongoing World Cup in the group stage.

Pakistan ended their campaign with a three-wicket win over Ireland in Florida on Sunday, a dead rubber after India and the USA, from Group A, advanced to the Super 8 stage.

Placed in Group A, Pakistan endured back-to-back defeats against the co-hosts, the USA, and then their bitter rival, India.

They bounced back with two wins on the trot, but it wasn’t enough to turn their woeful campaign around and secure a spot in the Super 8.

Pakistan’s next white-ball series will be against Australia in November. The Men in Green will engage in a three-match ODI series, which will kick off on November 4.

(With Added Inputs)

Pakistan’s earlier-than-expected elimination from the ongoing T20 World Cup has paved the way for different conspiracy theories in the local media. From groupism to rift withing the senion members of the team, the local media has presented several concepts to suggest the reason behind the team’s disaster show in the Americas. While majority of the former players have entirely put the blame of the players, ex-captain Rashid Latif has time and time again highlighted the role PCB has played in the team’s downfall.

Earlier this week, Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf was confronted by a man on the streets of Miami, Florida. In a viral video, Haris had lost his cool at the man, who must’ve said something derrogatory to the player.

Angered by the action of the man, Haris was seen chasing the person to beat him. However, the people around them, including Haris’ wife, stopped the two doing anything stupid.

PCB also reacted to the whole episode, saying that they would take legal action against the man if he refuses to apologise to Haris.

Over the past few days, there have been rumours of spot fixing circulating in the media. Latif has now targetted the PCB for not addressing the match-fixing allegations that have been doing rounds on social media.

“Pakistan’s exclusion from the World Cup has caused the biggest loss to our electronic media, which includes news channels and sports broadcasters (broadcasting rights). Those who have the broadcast rights to show the match are expected to lose 30% to 35%. The ratings of the channels are also surprisingly low as the Pakistan team is back home and the news channels and sports channels are blaming the players and the team to keep themselves alive and the cricket board is a silent spectator. While in Haris Rauf’s case, Chairman PCB’s X message came immediately, but where a serious allegation like match-fixing was made, the entire legal department is silent and coincidentally, PCB’s CEO is a lawyer by profession. People are understanding that maybe it did not change the direction of the cannons to save itself?,” Latif wrote in a post on X.

pic.twitter.com/3MLSEcuqM8

— Rashid Latif | (@iRashidLatif68) June 21, 2024

Successive poor shows in the ODI World Cup 2023 and the 2024 T20 World Cup, has put a big question mark on the Babar Azam-led Pakistan. 

This time around the reaction to the exit is stronger because Pakistan started the tournament with an unexpected loss against debutants USA. 

Then they loss against India. The two losses proved to be Pakistan’s nemesis as they were knocked out despite winning their last two encounters.  

The Pakistan cricket team has received a lot of criticism for its poor form in the T20 World Cup 2024. The defending champions got eliminated from the first round of the tournament. Their disappointing campaign included an embarrassing loss at the hands of United States. However, as soon as Pakistan’s campaign in the tournament ended with their last Group A match against Ireland, it was not the poor performance of the team rather the statement of the head coach Gary Kirsten that became a focus point.

In a scathing criticism of the beleaguered Pakistan cricket team, head coach Kirsten said that there is “no unity” in the side and he has “never seen such a situation” in his long coaching career. Kirsten’s criticism followed the Pakistan’s team’s first round exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.

According to media reports in Pakistan, Kirsten, who guided India to ODI World Cup triumph in 2011, pulled no punches in his assessment of the team after being eliminated from the ongoing T20 showpiece.

“There’s no unity in Pakistan’s team. They call it a team, but it isn’t a team. They aren’t supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I’ve worked with many teams, but I’ve never seen such a situation,” Kirsten said as per reports quoting a senior scribe.

Geosuper.tv quoted sources as saying that Kirsten had also expressed his displeasure over the fitness level of the players. The former South Africa opener also said the team is far behind in terms of skill level as compared to the rest of the world.

“Meri team main current players se bat huyi hai. Unhone confirm kiya hai ki jo final meeting huyi hai, unme unhone iss tarah ki baat ki hai and Gary Kirsten wali statement true hai (I have had a chat with some of the current players in the team.

They have confirmed that Gary Kirsten’s statement is correct and he said all those things in the final meeting),” said Shehzad on ‘Haarna Mana Hai’ show.

Out-of-favour Pakistan player Ahmed Shehzad has clarified that the viral quote was actually given by Kirsten, but he also clarified that it was said in a team meeting after Pakistan final T20 World Cup game vs Ireland.

“I talked to some players from the team. They confirmed that Kirsten has said that in the final meeting,” Shehzad told Geo TV.

(With PTI Inputs)

Haris Rauf and Ahmed Shehzad© X (Twitter)

Many Pakistan cricketers jumped to the rescue of Haris Rauf, after a video went viral online, where the pacer is seen engaged in a heated squabble with a fan. After Pakistan’s group stage exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, a fan was caught on camera in an argument with Haris Rauf, having allegedly thrown insults at the player’s family. Rauf’s teammates Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali, as well as Ahmed Shehzad, took to social media to address the behaviour of the fans.

“Let’s keep the debate respectful and considerate of the players’ families. Let’s promote love, peace and respect for the GAME,” tweeted fellow pacer Hasan Ali.

Shadab Khan was firmer with his words, criticising the fans’ behaviour towards the cricketers.

“It is not OKAY to attack anyone personally in their family’s presence, unacceptable. How would you feel if someone attacked you personally while with family?” posted Shadab on X.

A heated argument between Haris Rauf and a fan in the USA. pic.twitter.com/d2vt8guI1m

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 18, 2024

I’ve seen a video circulating online about Harry @HarisRauf14 and I urge all my dearest cricket fans to remember that criticism can be constructive without being hurtful. Let’s keep the debate respectful and considerate of the players’ families. Let’s promote love, peace and…

— Hassan Ali (@RealHa55an) June 18, 2024

It is the right of fans to criticise us for performances. We accept it and try to learn from it. It is not OKAY to attack anyone personally in their family’s presence, unacceptable. How would u feel if someone attacked u personally while with family? #HarisRauf @HarisRauf14

— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) June 18, 2024

Rizwan’s post, however, triggered a major row, as he mentioned that it didn’t matter if the fan was from India or Pakistan, despite the fact that it was cleared by the fan himself that he was from Pakistan.

It is irrelevant whether the person who disrespected Haris Rauf was from Pakistan or India. What truly matters is that this individual lacked values and manners. No one has the right to disrespect any human being, especially in front of their family members. Such appalling…

— Muhammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) June 18, 2024

Rizwan received criticism on social media for bringing India into the debate despite there being no involvement from any Indian fan.

Absolutely unnecessary to mention ‘India’ here when that fan himself claimed he’s from Pakistan.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 18, 2024

Discarded Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has been the talk of the town on social mediathe last few weeks, criticising Babar Azam and the Pakistan cricket team. However, even he expressed his dislike for the events that had unfolded.

“As cricket fans, you can criticise the performance of players and their actions on the field. No one has the right to ridicule a player or their family, always respect their privacy,” said Shehzad.

As cricket fans, you can criticise the performance of players and their actions on the field. No one has the right to ridicule a player or their family, always respect their privacy. Criticise them for grouping in the team, for their friendships which has kept deserving players…

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) June 18, 2024

“Criticise them for grouping in the team, for their friendships which has kept deserving players out, for prioritising personal milestones over country’s collective success, and for the betterment of Pakistan cricket only,” he added.

Pakistan’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup – losses to USA and India leading to their early exit – has not gone down well among former Pakistan cricketers and experts, with many calling for a change in the team. However, after the attack on Rauf’s family, the players made sure that such behaviour remains inexcusable.

Out-of-favour batter Ahmed Shehzad has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take strict actions against the players who took part in their disastrous T20 World Cup campaign. Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament after losing to India and tournament debutants the USA. While Pakistan did beat Canada and Ireland in their last two group games, the team’s approach was questioned by fans and experts.

Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten had launched an attack on the team, saying that there is “no unity” in the side and he has “never seen such a situation” in his long coaching career.

“There’s no unity in Pakistan’s team. They call it a team, but it isn’t a team. They aren’t supporting each other; everyone is separated, left and right. I’ve worked with many teams, but I’ve never seen such a situation,” Kirsten said as per reports quoting a senior scribe.

Geosuper.tv 4 quoted sources as saying that Kirsten had expressed his displeasure over the fitness level of the players. The former South Africa opener also said the team is far behind in terms of skill level as compared to the rest of the world.

Reacting to Kirsten’s remarks, Shehzad said that the Pakistan team is plagued with groupism within the team. He also demanded a crackdown from the PCB on the current group of players.

“If Gary Kirsten’s team talk is true, it’s not shocking at all. We have been saying this throughout the World Cup. It’s time for accountability, this team is plagued with grouping and crackdown is the only option. The players involved must be punished and an example should be set for next generation of cricketers. PCB chairman must take notice,” Shehzad wrote in a post on X.

If Gary Kirsten’s team talk is true, it’s not shocking at all. We have been saying this throughout the World Cup. It’s time for accountability, this team is plagued with grouping and crackdown is the only option. The players involved must be punished and an example should be set…

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) June 17, 2024

Few days back, Shehzad had urged the PCB to get rid of senior players, including captain Babar Azam, star pacer Shaheen Afridi and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. 

Shehzad suggested that the players have been given enough time to perform and improve, but their hasn’t been any improvement.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 preparations hit a roadblock earlier this week following a 2-0 series defeat to England. While the first and the third T20Is were washed out due to rain, England sealed the series by winning the second and the series-decided. Amid Pakistan’s poor form, several former and current players have raised concerns over the team’s chances at the T20 World Cup. Out-of-favour batter Ahmed Shehzad has slammed Pakistan captain Babar Azam, saying that the star batter is hiding behind the selection committee.

“Babar Azam is hiding behind seven selectors,” Shehzad said during a discussion on Geo News.

Babar has been under the scanner for being biased towards certain players. He has been accused of influencing selection of the players on the basis of friendship, rather than merit.

Wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan‘s selection for the tournament has been heavily criticised in the media by former players and experts. Azam, who is the son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, has been facing a lot of flack for his recent form, with former players suggesting that the youngster is not fit enough to play cricket at the highest level.

Despite criticism, Babar backed Azam’s selection, urging the fans to support the players who have been selected.

“When we don’t select a player, you ask us why we did not select him. And then, when we select him, you ask us why he was selected. We need to back the players who have been selected.

Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside arch-rival India, Canada, USA and Ireland. The Men in Green will begin their campaign against the co-hosts USA on Thursday at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas.

They face USA in their tournament opener on June 6, followed by the high-octane clash against arch-rivals India on June 9.

Pakistan squad for T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan.