Pakistan’s renowned batter, Ahmed Shehzad, laid bare the alleged disparities present within the national cricket team. His candid comments came after Pakistan’s surprising loss to Afghanistan in the ongoing 2023 World Cup.
Facing their third consecutive defeat, Pakistan is now dangerously close to an early exit from the tournament. The pressure is mounting on the team, especially on the captain, Babar Azam, as their chances of progressing further dwindle. With only two victories in five matches and a troubling negative Net Run Rate (NRR), the upcoming matches against top-performers South Africa and New Zealand look daunting.
After the defeat to Afghanistan, where Afghanistan effortlessly chased a target of 283 runs, Babar Azam’s captaincy decisions have been under the microscope. Questions arose regarding his defensive approach, which many pundits believed to be flawed. However, Ahmed Shehzad’s recent appearance on ARY News brought another layer of complexity to the already tense atmosphere.
According to Ahmed Shehzad, not all players are treated equally within the team. During the interview, he said, “I’ve talked to some players. Few players are not welcome in the dressing room. They aren’t given the same level of treatment and confidence as some others.” He specifically named Usama Mir, a wrist-spinner, suggesting that Mir should’ve been utilized more effectively in matches. Shehzad argued that Mir is most effective when the ball is old, yet he often gets brought into the game during the 11th over, which he feels is a tactical error.
Shehzad further pointed out other players like Tayyab Tahir and Saud Shakeel, hinting at possible biases within the selection process. “Tayyab Tahir was brought in, he wasn’t welcome, and was excluded. Saud Shakeel was brought in based on his Test performances,” said the frustrated batter. Emphasizing the need for a mystery spinner, Shehzad added, “We had been saying from quite some time that bring in Abrar Ahmad. These are our colleagues, these are our friends, and these are not welcome.”
The recent defeats have led many former cricket legends to openly criticize the team’s performance. Names like Wasim Akram, Misbah ul Haq, Ramiz Raja, Rashid Latif, Muhammad Hafeez, Aaqib Javed, Shoaib Malik, Moin Khan, and Shoaib Akhtar have expressed their dissatisfaction, holding Babar Azam responsible for the losses against India, Australia, and Afghanistan.
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