Pietersen baffled by Shehzad's absence from Pakistan T20I squad

England’s legendary former batsman Kevin Pietersen was baffled by batsman Ahmed Shehzad’s absence from the Pakistan Twenty20 International (T20I) side after the final squad for the series against Bangladesh was announced by the head coach-cum-chief selector Misbahul Haq at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.

The former batsman expressed his astonishment, through a tweet on Thursday, at Shehzad’s exclusion from the side after his recent performances in domestic cricket.

“Just seen the team that Pakistan have picked to play Bangladesh. How on this planet can Ahmed Shehzad not be in that squad? His PSL numbers and domestic number are so much better than the batter picked ahead of him! Stupid!” Pietersen tweeted.

Just seen the team that PAKISTAN have picked to play Bangladesh.

How on this planet can @iamahmadshazhad NOT be in that squad???

His PSL numbers and domestic number are so much better than the batter picked ahead of him!

STUPID!

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) January 16, 2020

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It must be noted that both Pietersen and Shehzad had been teammates at the Quetta Gladiators franchise in the first three seasons of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Pakistan’s legendary former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, in a Tweet on Friday, expressed similar sentiments and was disappointed at Shehzad’s omission from the national side.

“It’s very disappointing to hear that Ahmed Shehzad was not picked again for the national squad for the tour against BD [Bangladesh]. He has a good reputation against BD every time he plays against them so I think that such a talented player who is performing in domestic cricket,” Razzaq tweeted.

It’s very disappointing to hear that @iamAhmadshahzad was not picked again for the national squad for the tour against BD. He has a good reputation against BD every time he plays against them so I think that such a talented player who is performing in domestic cricket.

— Abdul Razzaq (@ARazzaqPak) January 17, 2020