Ahmed Shehzad has expressed his disappointment over the Pakistan National Cricket Team’s poor performance in the ongoing five-match T20I series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch. Shehzad was upset with Pakistan’s bowling performance against the Black Caps.
The questioned Pakistani bowlers’ inability to take wickets as they failed to defend the 92-run target with the hosts crossing the line within 11 overs to win the first T20I match by nine wickets at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Sunday, March 16.
Ahmed Shehzad slams Pakistan’s bowling after heavy defeat against New Zealand
Shehzad pointed out that the experienced Pakistani bowlers failed to put pressure on the New Zealand batters, highlighting their lack of effective bowling strategies and the inability to trouble the opposition that ultimately led to their massive defeat in the T20I series opener in Christchurch.
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Ahmed Shehzad was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan, “We were dismissed, but how many wickets did we take? Our senior, experienced bowling attack—what have they done? Where do you see them delivering any kind of threatening bowling, whether they are right-handed or left-handed?”
The Pakistani cricketer also raised concerns over the selection of Shadab Khan, as he boldly claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has its own reasons for keeping the star all-rounder in the squad. He said that Shadab was not picked based purely on merit.
Who brought Shadab Khan into the Pakistan team?
He even admitted that Shadab can be appointed Pakistan’s T20I captain in the future. Shehzad said in frustration, “You’re talking about Shadab—tell me, what performance has he delivered? Who brought him into the team? Let this series pass first. The PCB has a different plan with Shadab, and he was included in the team for a different purpose.”
Meanwhile, Shehzad has also raised concerns about the decline of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy (NCA). He noted that the NCA is no longer producing top-quality players. The veteran opener also recalled a time when the NCA played a key role in developing talent through training camps, but now it is just set up where ‘you adjust your own people and secure salaries.’
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Ahmed Shehzad questioned the decline of Pakistan’s NCA by recalling how he, Mohammad Amir, and Shan Masood emerged from its development camps. He criticized the lack of player development in recent years. He also criticized the current NCA Director, Nadeem Khan.
Ahmed Shehzad slams NCA Director Nadeem Khan
Ahmed Shehzad signed off by saying, “Is there any responsibility or accountability? They are supposed to produce players for Pakistan. You can’t put everything on the players. What has Nadeem Khan produced at the NCA?”
“Why is no one questioning him? The NCA is such a big institution—what players have they developed? On what basis was he appointed there, and who put him in charge? What qualifications or credentials did he have to be given that position?”
Notably, Pakistan and New Zealand will face each other in the second T20I on March 18 at the University Oval in Dunedin. They will also play three ODIs after the T20I series.
