Ahmed Shehzad, a former Pakistani cricketer who was once compared to Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, has ignited a firestorm in the cricketing world with his scathing criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). In a series of tweets, Shehzad announced his withdrawal from the Domestic Cricket Champions Cup and expressed deep frustration with the current state of Pakistan cricket.
Shehzad, now 32, accused the PCB of favoritism, false promises, and injustice towards domestic players. He criticized the board for squandering resources on “mentors for doing nothing” and rewarding players who, in his view, have contributed to Pakistan cricket’s “all-time low.”
“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,” Shehzad tweeted.
He further added, “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.”
Shehzad’s outburst came in the wake of Pakistan’s humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, marking Bangladesh’s first-ever Test victory over Pakistan on their home soil. Shehzad described the defeat as a “new low” for Pakistan cricket, expressing disbelief over the team’s current state.
“Pakistan cricket has reached a point where today Bangladesh defeated Pakistan on home soil for the first time ever. I have never seen Pakistan cricket sink so low in my life,” Shehzad said in a video posted on Twitter.
Shehzad argued that the problem lies not with the players but with the PCB’s lack of vision and poor selection policies. He suggested that the board’s short-term decisions have pushed the team towards a decline similar to that of Pakistan’s once-great hockey team.
“I don’t blame the players. The fault lies with the Pakistan Cricket Board,” he asserted.
Shehzad’s comments have sparked a debate about the future of Pakistan cricket and the role of the PCB in its decline. It remains to be seen whether the board will respond to Shehzad’s criticism and take steps to address the issues he has raised.
