Ahmed Shehzad Criticism of Senior Players
Ahmed Shehzad, a former Pakistan cricketer, has strongly criticized the senior members of the national team after their early exit from the T20 World Cup. Shehzad specifically targeted captain Babar Azam, pacer Shaheen Afridi, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. He urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to remove these players from the team. According to Shehzad, these players have had enough time to improve but have failed to deliver consistent performances. He also accused Babar Azam of forming a group within the team to protect his close friends.
Accusations of Groupism
Shehzad claimed that Babar Azam, along with Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, and Haris Rauf, have been playing regularly for the past 4-5 years. Despite the ample opportunities, Shehzad believes these players have not shown any significant improvement. He alleged that the team’s groupism has led to mutual defense among the players, undermining the team’s overall performance. Shehzad questioned their learning process, citing their inability to perform under pressure, such as the crucial match against Canada where they failed to boost their net run rate.
Criticism of Leadership and Performance
Shehzad was particularly harsh on Babar Azam, accusing him of focusing more on personal milestones than team success. He criticized Babar’s leadership, calling him a “social media generated king” and accused him of lacking true leadership qualities. Shehzad also pointed out the poor fitness levels of the senior players and accused them of playing politics within the team. He claimed that instead of being in their prime, their performances have been declining.
Call for PCB to Take Action
Shehzad urged the PCB to take strict action against these senior players instead of blaming the younger, less experienced players. He criticized PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for re-appointing Babar Azam as captain and appointing Wahab Riaz as chief selector, calling these decisions major blunders. Shehzad stressed that the presence of these senior players who are allegedly involved in groupism is detrimental to the team. He warned that failing to address this issue would be unfair to the younger players who deserve more opportunities.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup has sparked a strong reaction from Ahmed Shehzad, who has called for significant changes in the team’s leadership and player selection.
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