Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has launched a scathing critique of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing it of failing to nurture the talent showcased in the recently concluded Champions One-Day Cup 2024.
In a candid discussion on his YouTube channel, Shehzad condemned the tournament as a costly error for the cricket board.
"Where is the talent that everyone was cheering for, saying that this tournament had brought out a lot of talent? We didn’t see anyone stand out. It’s just the same old 8-10 faces we always talk about, and they’re the only ones we’re seeing. If a Bradman has come along that we somehow missed, please let us know. It’s the same players going in circles, and those are your tools. You’re not going to get anything else. You’ve only wasted money. Hosting this tournament [Champions Cup] was a huge mistake, but no one is going to admit it. No one will raise their hand. The people you’ve recruited through favoritism in domestic cricket won’t say anything. Everyone will pass the blame onto someone else. This is the tragedy of your cricket, and this is how the structure of your cricket is operating," Shehzad said.
In addition to his criticism of the PCB, the opening batter addressed the resignation of senior selector Mohammad Yousuf.
"Senior selector Mohammad Yousuf has resigned, and the reasons for his resignation are not clear. Despite the beautiful team he announced, which has been losing in a terrible manner, he announced the same team after being whitewashed by Bangladesh for the first time. He gave the country another gift by announcing this team, and afterwards, hecalmly takes a step aside. He also beautifully stated in his tweet that he is very proud to contribute to the growth and success of the Pakistan team," he said.
The 32-year-old challenged Yousuf’s claims of contributing to the growth and success of Pakistan cricket.
"Brother, what growth are you talking about? This team lost to the USA for the first time; is that growth? After that, New Zealand's C-team came, and this team level the series against them? They played matches against England before the World Cup, scoring 85 runs in the powerplay; was that growth? They lost to the USA twice in one day for the first time; was that growth? After that, they failed to qualify for the Super 8 round of the T20 World Cup; was that growth?" he said.
"Then, Bangladesh came, and you told the public that surgery would take place while shouting false slogans. You did nothing. Afterwards, you raised the banner of the Pakistan Cup, which also proved to be a deception. Then you lost to Bangladesh as well; is that growth? I don't know what growth you are talking about, and if you ask us and the people of Pakistan, you have left Pakistan cricket at a point where lifting it up will be impossible or very difficult. With all due respect, you have had the biggest hand in sinking the Pakistan team, and you say you have worked on the growth and success of the Pakistan team. It's a lie," he added.
Shehzad has sharply criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for its mismanagement, specifically highlighting the appointment of several mentors at exorbitant salaries while failing to support essential red-ball matches. The 32-year-old described the recent Champions One-Day Cup as "the worst and pathetic tournament."
"You had set up a refugee camp from that camp and held a meeting where you mentioned that there is no unity in the team. You are the only cricket board in the world saying that there is no unity in the Pakistan cricket team, which implies there is grouping. So, the players who are responsible for grouping are back in the team—what are you doing? What have you done if there is grouping? You are not being honest; you don’t even know. You are either being blackmailed or you are in some kind of arrangement together. I have never seen the Pakistan team in such bad conditions. For this tournament, you hired five mentors, giving them 50 lakhs monthly," he said.
"You have big legends on your side, so-called superstars who are not even here. They take your cricket so lightly that they left for the USA in between. So how do you expect the public or the world to take this seriously if you and your mentors, whom you hired for 50 lakhs monthly, are not taking this tournament seriously? How do you expect that the public and players will take it seriously? I find this tournament of Pakistan pathetic, in which so much money has been invested and because of which so many arrangements have been made, and you have upcoming red-ball series. You did not arrange these red-ball four-day matches; you opted for white-ball instead. Not a single player has been brought into the team from this tournament by you or the selectors," he concluded.