WATCH: Iftikhar Ahmed slams media after Champions One-Day Cup final

Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed, who captained the UMT Markhors in the recently concluded Champions One-Day Cup, has voiced his disappointment with the media for overhyping players based on singular performances in domestic cricket. 

Following his team’s one-sided defeat against the Panthers in the tournament finale, Iftikhar did not hold back in his criticism of media practices that he believes are harming the sport.

In a candid post-match address, Iftikhar stated, “Cricket is ruined because of you people. I want to tell you media folks that please don’t hype players after one good innings. Let them prove their worth in domestic cricket.” He emphasized the need for consistency, urging the media to spotlight players who have demonstrated sustained performance over time rather than those who achieve fleeting successes.

The all-rounder continued, “You hype someone after one innings, and then when he fails for Pakistan, you start questioning his selection. For God’s sake, let a player top in all three formats and then speak about him. You guys start saying that we have found the new Inzamam-ul-Haq and things like that.”

In the tournament finale, the Panthers triumphed over the Markhors by five wickets at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. The Markhors struggled to set a competitive score, managing only 123 runs in 33.4 overs. Fakhar Zaman put in a spirited effort with 46 runs, but the Panthers’ bowlers, including Mohammad Hasnain, Arafat Minhas, and Sajid Khan, each took three wickets to dismantle the Markhors' batting lineup.

Led by Shadab Khan, the Panthers efficiently chased down the target in just 18 overs, clinching the title in the inaugural edition of the Champions One-Day Cup.