After Pakistan’s historic 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test, Ahmed Shehzad criticized the PCB on social media, blaming the board for the team’s decline.
Pakistan faced a shocking 10-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the first Test of a two-match series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. After conceding a 117-run lead in the first innings, Pakistan could only manage 146 runs in the second, leaving Bangladesh with a modest 30-run target, which they chased down in just 6.4 overs without losing a wicket. This marked Pakistan’s first-ever Test defeat to Bangladesh on home soil, sparking widespread criticism.
Out-of-favor batter Ahmed Shehzad took to social media to criticize Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi for the team’s declining performance. Despite his reputation as a bold and strategic leader, Shehzad argued that Naqvi has made decisions that suggest he lacks an understanding of cricket. He then expressed deep concern over the state of Pakistan cricket, noting that the team has reached an unprecedented low under the current administration.
“When you (Pakistan) lost against India, to calm people down and calm their anger, you gave a statement that there would be surgery, but you didn’t do that. You put dust in people’s eyes, like people have done before. You thought that you would buy some time. You will see some time; there is a Bangladesh series ahead; when you defeat them, then people’s anger will be a little better, and you will get enough time to make your changes, but that didn’t happen,” Shehzad said.
جھوٹی سرجریوں سے کچھ نہیں ہو گا محسن نقوی صاحب! جو کام کرنے والے ہیں وو کریں یہ اسٹیڈیم کی تزئین و آرائش سے پاکستان کرکٹ ٹیم کے حالات نہیں سدھرنے والے ۔#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/gqObhX0L6U
— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) August 25, 2024
“We heard that Mohsin Naqvi is a very courageous person, he is a very shrewd person, and he has a very big business. He is coming as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. It was said that if someone can change the destiny of Pakistan’s cricket, then the current chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, will change it. But this was not seen at all. In fact, the decisions he is making prove that he has no idea about cricket at all. And the situation of Pakistan’s cricket has become such that today Bangladesh has defeated Pakistan for the first time on the home soil of Pakistan. I have never seen Pakistan cricket go so low in my life,” he added.
In another video, Ahmed Shehzad expressed deep concern over the state of Pakistan cricket, comparing its decline to the fall of the men’s hockey team. He emphasized that the PCB’s short-term decisions and reluctance to bring in fresh talent from domestic cricket are driving the team toward “darkness.”
“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,” he said.
Shehzad then questioned the PCB’s management, pointing out that players don’t choose themselves; it’s the board’s decisions that have led to the current crisis. Notably, in his video caption, Shehzad criticized the PCB for repeatedly deceiving the nation, stating that the historic defeat to Bangladesh is a strong reminder of how far the team has fallen.
“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.
“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.
پاکستان ٹیم کا تاریخی زوال شروع ہو چکا ہے۔ قوم کے ساتھ بار بار جھوٹ بولا گیا اور آج بنگلہ دیش سے تاریخی ذلّت آمیز شکست کے بعد پھر سے گھناؤنا مذاق کیا گیا۔ قوم اب کس سے جواب طلب کرے اور کس کا گلا پکڑے؟ ان سب حالات کا اصل ذمےدار کون؟؟#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/AdXZhy3z7n
— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) August 25, 2024
Last Updated on August 26, 2024
Senior Sports Copywriter
