Veteran batter Ahmed Shahzad has lashed out at Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan for his “mind-boggling” blunder to bat first in the tri-nation series final against New Zealand. On Friday, New Zealand beat Pakistan by 5 wickets to win the tri-nation series final at the National Stadium in Karachi. After opting to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 242 on a two-paced track, and New Zealand achieved the target in just 45.2 overs. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Shahzad questioned Rizwan’s decision to bat, especially after Pakistan chased down 353 a couple of days prior against South Africa at the very same ground.

“It was a mind-boggling decision (to bat first) because we had seen in the previous match that the pitch becomes better to bat on in the night, the ball doesn’t grip on the surface for the spinners. Still, the Pakistan team decided to bat first,” Shahzad said on his YouTube channel.

Shahzad feels Pakistan are only capable of beating second or third-string oppositions, adding that the Rizwan-led side has been brutally exposed by New Zealand ahead of the Champions Trophy.

“Pakistan’s bubble has burst ahead of the Champions Trophy. You get a chance to win only when the opposition performs below par or doesn’t have their main players playing,” he added.

Shahzad also questioned the logic behind the decision to drop pacer Mohammad Hasnain at the expense of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, especially considering that the latter only bowled two overs in the match.

“In his every decision, the Pakistan captain wants to play safe with batting, be it by being a spinner short in the Champions Trophy squad or this match, where they played (bowling all-rounder) Faheem Ashraf to have a longer batting line-up at the expense of (fast bowler) Mohammad Hasnain and still used him (Ashraf) for just two overs,” Shahzad pointed out.

After the match, Rizwan had explained the logic behind his decision to bat first.

“We wanted to bat first because we thought in the second half, the pitch would be tough. But their bowlers put a squeeze on us. We were looking to target 280 but they got it back. We were 15 runs short. They were bowling very well. Me and Agha were trying to build the stand. We tried doing that, but they were not giving us the balls. We kept the target to 280, not 300. My wicket was crucial. [Fielding] We have to bring the improvement. This is one department we are lacking. [Abrar] He has really improved. The others have to improve as well. [CT’25] We wanted to prepare for the 19th as well. So that is why we wanted to bat first as well,” Rizwan said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Ahmed Shehzad says he doesn’t feel the need to find another life partner.© AFP

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan© AFP

Pakistan’s red-ball format head coach, Jason Gillespie has urged former cricketers to avoid unwarranted criticism of the national team as he believes it can deeply affect the players. Gillespie admitted that the comments former players made in TV shows and Youtube channels indeed bruised the cricketers. “I’m very protective of players and very protective of staff I work with and just want to make sure that the environment that we’re trying to create is a safe space for everyone and if that gets eroded then that can lead to a bit of frustration,” Gillespie told Sky Sports.

The former Australian quick asked the players of yesteryears to be more judicious while airing their opinion, especially in social media.

“A lot of former players have their own space on social media – YouTube, whatever, and they’re paid to have an opinion. One thing that I have noticed here is that the players notice everything and if they get some positive feedback from former players they idolised as kids, that goes a long way when they get some positive reinforcement.

“But it can have the opposite effect too if there’s a lot of criticism by those former players,” he added.

Gillespie also admitted that he felt frustrated over his reduced role as the head coach.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had stripped Gillespie and Test skipper Shan Masood their place in the selection committee, besides taking away the say in pitch preparation.

“I think there’s always frustration from time to time. For me, when I came on board with Pakistan cricket, I was told there was a long-term plan, and we need to make sure our communication’s spot on.

“I made that a real focus and so you can get frustrated if those things aren’t done how you would like,” Gillespie said.

The New South Welshman admitted that the recent changes in the selection panel have limited his influence.

“It wasn’t what I signed up for, I’ll be completely honest. But this is one of those situations in which you just need to go with the flow. As I said, I’m in a different environment and things are done differently.

“One can agree or disagree with how things are done, but, ultimately, I’m here to help the Pakistan team do well – help the players get better. So, I’ve put all my focus and energy into that,” he said.

Gillespie said the fact that PCB has already formed the third selection panel since his appointment as head coach was an indication of a different environment.

“Since I’ve been involved, we’re already on our third selection panel. These are the things you just have to take it in your stride and understand that we’re in a different environment and go with the flow.

“I ask a lot of questions and ask for clarity, which as head coach I’m well within my rights to ask,” he said. PTI Corr UNG 7/21/2024

Veteran Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the country’s apex cricket board for excluding domestic stalwart Kamran Ghulam from the team for the 1st Test of a three-match series against England. On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 15-man squad for the series-opener, starting in Multan from October 7. However, there was no place for Ghulam in the team, who has been piling runs in the domestic circuit. In fact, since September 2023, Ghulam has smashed seven hundreds in 13 first-class matches for his side Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), with five hundreds coming in this year alone.

Ghulam was part of the squad for the Bangladesh Test series earlier this month, but did not feature. Despite dropping him from the team, the PCB insisted that the batter is still in their plans.

However, Shehzad slammed chief selector Mohammad Yousuf for his inclusion. In fact, he even asked Yousuf if Ghulam’s exclusion is due to the presence of Babar Azam, who also bats at no. 3.

“Kamran Ghulam has been ignored as Mohammad Yousuf didn’t make him a part of the 15-member squad. Khurram Shahzad is injured, while Aamer Jamal and Shaheen Shah Afridi aren’t fully fit. Despite that, you did not pick Mohammad Ali. It’s hard to understand. How will you justify not picking Kamran and Sahibzada Farhan in the squad? What sin did they commit? Is it because they bat in the same position where Babar bats? When Yousuf was the coach, he left everything on two to three players. Yousuf is the selector and this is the team he is selecting. Give me one logic why Kamran Ghulam was left out?” Shehzad said in a video uploaded on his social media handles.

If Saim & Abdullah can be given Chances then why not Kamran & Mohammad Ali? New Name for Dosti Yaari is “Fear of Failure”. This is Mindless Strategy by Pakistan Cricket Board#PakistanCricket #KamranGhulam #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/l5KhOFMrW2

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) September 25, 2024

Ghulam, 28, has played just one game for Pakistan, in an ODI against New Zealand last year, although he did not bat or bowl in that game.

The Upper Dir-born cricketer has been in impressive form in the ongoing Champions One Day Cup, scoring 248 runs at an average of 49.60 and a strike rate of 100 in five games.

However, Ghulam was dismissed for a solitary run in Markhors’ Qualifier against the Panthers.

Pakistan lost to Bangladesh in the two-match Test series© AFP

Ahmed Shahzad, Pakistan cricket team, has been very critical of the country’s board of late. His tirades started with Pakistan’s falling form in international cricket. Pakistan cricket hit a new low recently as it suffered the first ever loss to Bangladesh in Tests. Since then, former Pakistan cricketers have been quite critical. Shahzad is also among them. After the first Test loss, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) brought some changes in its domestic structure. 

The PCB has named Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Saqlain Mushtaq as mentors for the teams during the Champions One-Day Cup. It appointed the five former stalwarts of Pakistan in preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy.  

Shahzad, who has pulled out of the Champions Cup, blasted the PCB.

“The condition of Pakistan cricket team is such that PCB needs some names that can stand in front to protect them so that they come in the line of fire. We have had such discussions before also.  The lower the level of Pakistan cricket teams falls, the higher the money paid to these people. Even though they have coaching staff, but no disrespect, just like there are maids working at homes and the women of the house point out the dirty areas after a while, the work of the PCB looks the same,” he said.

“Your work is the same.”

Damage Control Strategy of PCB! pic.twitter.com/FnMjBukBc6

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) August 30, 2024

Earlier, in another X post, Shahzad had written that he is pulling out of the domestic competition due to ‘favoritism, false promises, and injustice.’ 

“With a heavy heart, I’ve decided not to play in the Domestic Cricket Champions Cup. The PCB’s favoritism, false promises, and injustice towards domestic players are unacceptable. In a time when Pakistan is struggling with inflation, poverty, and massive electricity bills, the PCB is wasting 5 million Rs on mentors for doing nothing and rewarding failed players in the current team who brought Pakistan cricket to an All-time Low,” he posted on X.

With a heavy heart, I’ve decided not to play in the Domestic Cricket Champions Cup. The PCB’s favoritism, false promises, and injustice towards domestic players are unacceptable. In a time when Pakistan is struggling with inflation, poverty, and massive electricity bills, the PCB…

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) August 30, 2024

“It’s even more disrespectful that the PCB claims they don’t have ‘instruments for surgery’ which is a huge disrespect for domestic players. As a Pakistani and true cricket lover, I cannot support a system that has no value for merit. I refuse to be a part of this failed setup.”

Pakistan’s loss against Bangladesh has been widely criticised. Despite being in a decent position, Pakistan could not stop Bangladesh’s march and slumped to their first loss against the team in the longest format. Pakistan’s batting crumbled on a pitch that had been unresponsive over the first four days until small cracks started to appear that were exploited by Bangladesh’s spinners. The hosts also paid for not including a frontline spinner as they fell to the fifth defeat in their past nine home matches, with four draws.

Their leading batsmen also failed, with Babar Azam making only 22 and skipper Masood 14.

“Your own performance is nothing. Who will listen to you? From 2020 till now, you have got three fifties. You are making a fool of Pakistan public. This is your turn, show some maturity. You are not that Shan Masood of U-19 and U-16 level,” Shehzad said in a video.

Shehzad was also angry after he got out and showed his dissent in the dressing room. Shehzad blasted Masood for this too. 

“There are certain norms when you become Pakistan captain. You can’t show dissent like that. Are you playing in a gully? You were saying you wer not out after getting out. You are notorious for not accepting that you are out since the under-19 days. You have taken such players in the team who are selfish, do conspiracies, are always after captaincy. You are losing with the same boys, why haven’t you introduced new boys?” 

Pakistan and Bangladesh have been fined and docked World Test Championship points over slow over rates during the first Test in Rawalpindi, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Monday. 

Bangladesh achieved their first victory over Pakistan in 14 Tests with a thumping 10-wicket win on Sunday after both teams struggled in hot conditions on a flat Rawalpindi pitch.

Out-of-favour Pakistan star Ahmed Shehzad blasted Masood for his captaincy.

“Hosts Pakistan were found to be six overs short and lost six WTC points, while visitors Bangladesh were docked three points after being found three overs short of the acceptable rate,” the ICC said in a release.

Pakistan’s players were also fined 30 percent of their match fee and the Bangladeshis 15 percent, it said.

Pakistan slumped to eighth in the nine-team WTC points table after the defeat, while Bangladesh are seventh.

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was also fined 10 percent of his match fee and received a demerit point for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.

With AFP inouts

Under-fire Team Pakistan invited more trouble for itself after losing the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh by 10 wickets on Sunday. It was Pakistan’s first-ever defeat against Bangladesh in the longest format. Pakistan, who were already going through numerous changes after their debacle in the ODI and the T20 World Cup, are once again in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. From wrong team selection to poor decision making, Pakistan failed in all aspects during the match.

Shan Masood and co are facing a lot of backlash from many former cricketers for their poor outing. Recently, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen also expressed shock at Pakistan’s dismal show. 

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pietersen wrote, “What happened to cricket in Pakistan? When I played the PSL, the standard of that league was tremendous, the players had a very good work ethic and the youngsters on display were magic. What’s happening there?”

What happened to cricket in Pakistan? When I played the PSL, the standard of that league was tremendous, the players had a very good work ethic and the youngsters on display were magic.

What’s happening there?

— Kevin Pietersen(@KP24) August 26, 2024

Earlier, ignored Pakistan star, Ahmad Shehzad also didn’t mince words in his criticism on social media, calling it an “all-time low”.

“I haven’t seen Pakistan go this low in my life. Batting, bowling and fielding is a discussion for another day. But this is a new low in Pakistan cricket. It will be very tough for them to recover from this defeat. They haven’t recovered from the defeat against Afghanistan until today,” Shehzad said in a video shared on social media.

“I had said this before as well, Pakistan team is already heading towards darkness, so you cannot take short-term decisions. The situation is just like hockey. Even so, we never expected that Pakistan will lose to Bangladesh, but they have done that as well. Pakistan’s players are not at fault. The cricket board is responsible.

“Players never force anyone to put them in the team. It’s the board that keeps playing them and is not allowing domestic players to come in. If you don’t have domestic players who can replace the existing lot, then what have you done so far?,” he added, questioning the functioning of the PCB.

As Pakistan cricket team hits an all new low, one of its discarded stars, Ahmad Shehzad, didn’t mince words in his criticism on social media. Shehzad has been criticising the Pakistan team over a long time, be it with regards to his exclusion from national selection or other matters. Now, Shehzad has found another reason to target the PCB, questioning the manner in which the board is running cricketing affairs in the team. After Pakistan’s defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, the first-ever to the opponents in the nation’s history, Shehzad said that the team hit an all-new low.

“I haven’t seen Pakistan go this low in my life. Batting, bowling and fielding is a discussion for another day. But this is a new low in Pakistan cricket. It will be very tough for them to recover from this defeat. They haven’t recovered from the defeat against Afghanistan until today,” Shehzad said in a video shared on social media.

Shezad feels Pakistan cricket is heading into deep darkness, just like the men’s hockey team. But, the blame for this situation goes more to the PCB than the players.

“I had said this before as well, Pakistan team is already heading towards darkness, so you cannot take short-term decisions. The situation is just like hockey. Even so, we never expected that Pakistan will lose to Bangladesh, but they have done that as well. Pakistan’s players are not at fault. The cricket board is responsible.

#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/AdXZhy3z7n

— Ahmad Shahzad (@iamAhmadshahzad) August 25, 2024

“Players never force anyone to put them in the team. It’s the board that keeps playing them and is not allowing domestic players to come in. If you don’t have domestic players who can replace the existing lot, then what have you done so far?,” he added, questioning the functioning of the PCB.

In his caption for the video, Shehzad said that a ‘dirty joke’ has been played, but it is still not clear whose ‘throat’ should the people of Pakistan grab.

“The historic downfall of the Pakistan team has begun. The nation has been lied to again and again and today, after the historic humiliating defeat by Bangladesh, the dirty joke has been played again. Whom should the nation ask for an answer from and whose throat should they grab? Who is responsible for all these situations?” Shehzad wrote in the Urdu caption of the video.