"Bangladesh made our batters dance": Ahmed Shehzad criticizes Pakistan's shot selection

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has sharply criticized the national team’s batters for their poor shot selections in the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. 

In a video posted on his official X handle, Shehzad took aim at the Pakistani batsmen, accusing them of failing to adapt their approach for Test cricket.

His scathing remarks highlighted the recurring issue of T20-style shots being used in Test matches. He expressed frustration with the batters, stating that their shot selections have not improved despite previous criticism. 

“Bangladeshi bowlers strike back. And the Bangladeshi bowlers have once again made the Pakistani batsmen dance to their tunes. The same shot selections that we have been talking about. The T20 shots—we have seen them once again. The bat of the batsman is going so far away from his bat," Shehzad said.

"In T20 cricket or in T10 cricket as well, when a player gets out like this, the coaches ask that this was too much. You are getting out by hitting these shots in Test cricket. You are not learning from your mistakes. Maybe you don’t have the charm or the skills. Or maybe we are making a mistake by putting expectations on you. Or this nation is making a mistake by putting expectations on you. That you are playing with their emotions like this,” he added.

The opening batters critique extended beyond the players to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which he accused of failing to make necessary changes. He lamented the PCB’s approach to managing the team and diverting public attention with media appearances instead of addressing the core issues. 

“I don’t call the players responsible for this. The PCB is equally responsible as the players. Because some things were right in front of us. We had to take some decisions. But we did the same thing that we do every time. We tried to distract the public by talking on TV. After that, we thought that Bangladesh cricket will come. We will definitely defeat them. When we defeat them, the public’s anger will cool down. Then when will we start the Pakistan Cup? Your entire plan has been reversed and has fallen on your face," he said.

Reflecting on the broader implications, Shehzad suggested that the dominance of the Bangladesh team is a sign of the current state of Pakistan cricket. He argued that the team’s struggles against lower-ranked nations are not mere coincidences but indicative of deeper issues within the sport in Pakistan. 

“The Bangladesh cricket Test team has come here. They have defeated you in the first match and made history. After that, they are dominating in the second match as well. This means that this is not a fluke. When you lose to Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, or Ireland, these things are not a fluke. This is the reality of Pakistan cricket. You have brought Pakistan cricket to this level,” he concluded.

In the second Test, Pakistan was dismissed for 274 runs in their first innings. Despite early breakthroughs that reduced Bangladesh to 26-6, Litton Das's century helped Bangladesh recover to a total of 262 runs. At the close of Day 3, Pakistan was in a difficult position, scoring just nine runs and losing two key wickets.

The situation worsened on Day 4 as they lost four more players in the first session. Hasan Mahmud's five-wicket haul helped dismiss Pakistan for 172, setting Bangladesh a target of 185 runs. Bangladesh are currently chasing Pakistan's target as Day 5 of the match gets underway.