Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has raised concerns over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) squad selection for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which will be ?co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE. The tournament holds significant importance for Pakistan, not only because they are co-hostin?g but also as an opportunity to reclaim their dominance in white-ball cricket.

Concerns over spin department

Shahzad took to social media to criticize the lack of specialist spinners in the squad, questioning the team’s strategy in spin-friendly conditions. He pointed out that with the tournament being played in Pakistan and the UAE, where pitches traditio??nally assist spinners, the decision to include only one genuine spinner could backfire.

“Only one genuine spinner in Champions Trophy squad and you are playing in Pakistan and UAE, are you serious?” Shahzad tweeted, referring to the selection of Abrar Ahmed as the lone specialist spinner, while part-time spin options like Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah are expected to support him.

Also READ: Pakistan announc?es ODI squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 and tri-series; no place for Saim Ayub

Uncertainty in the opening pair

Shahzad also pointed out the lack of clarity in Pakistan’s opening combination, especially with Fakhar Zaman making a c?omeback. H?e expressed concerns about the decision to introduce two new openers directly into a high-stakes tournament.

“2 new openers will be playing directly in Champions Trophy. Fakhar making a comeback and we still don’t know who will open with him,” Shahzad remarked, emphasizing ??the need for a settled top order ahead of the tournament.

The former opener further questioned the selection of players like Usman Khan, Faheem Ashraf, and Usman Shinwari, who have returned to the squad based on performances in Bangladesh’s T20 league rather than recent ODI e?xperience for Pakistan.

Another concern highlighted by Shahzad was the inclusion of Saud Shakeel without a defined role in the playing XI. “And where are you willing to adjust Saud Shakeel? Another one came directly into the Champions Trophy squad,” he questioned, hinting at a lack of strategic planning in sq??uad selection.

Only one genuine spinner in champions trophy squad and you are playing in Pakistan and UAE are you serious ?🤦🏻‍♂�?/p>

2 new openers will b playing directly in champions trophy fakhar making a comeback ?and we still don’t know who will open with him🤷🏽

Usman , Faheem & usman make thre�?pic.twitter.com/zrCmNgufHr

— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) January 31, 2025

Also READ: Champions Trophy 2025: Here’s the? reason why captain??s�?photoshoot will not take place in Pakistan

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India and Pakistan clashes are never an easy fixture. While players feel the burden of huge expectations of billions of people between the two nations, the management boards of the nations are often against each other over conduct of matches between these arch-rivals. Something of a similar sort happened ahead of the upcoming Champions Trophy which is scheduled in Pakistan. The BCCI, citing security reasons, denied going to the neighbouring country for the tournament. Finally, after a month long tussle between BCCI and PCB, it was decided that the future matches between the two nations for ICC fixtures will happen in a neutral venue. The two boards might have reached a consensus, but Pakistani player Ahmed Shehzad had ideas of his own. 

Also Read: India vs Pakist??an or India vs Australia? Gautam Gambhir picks the top rivalry in cricket

Ahmed Shehzad offers a unique solution for India-Pakistan matches 

The 33-year-old Pakistani bat??te?r proposed a unique solution for India-Pakistan matches so that people of the two ?nations can enjoy the thrill and excitement of the heated?? rivalry.

“I did a podcast where I suggested the idea of building a stadium by the border. One gate would be towards India, the other gate would be towards Pakistan. The players would come from the respective gates and play,” Shehzad ?pointed out during a discussion on his YouTube channel.

Shehzad stressed out the golden chance missed by PCB

Shehzad expressed his disappointment over Pakistan potentially losing the opportunity to host India for the Champions Trophy, which was awarded to Pakistan as part of the ICC’s 2021 agreement. He suggested that hosting India would have been a significant milestone, but due to mismanagement or external factors, the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) might have squandered this chance.

“Pakistan had a golden chance to host India. All cricket boards had signed the agreement in 2021 that Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy. ICC cannot back off. PCB has missed the chance I think. We should forget that the Indian team will ever come to Pakistan now. Just forget it. The only way you could have brought India here was by an ICC event,” added Shehzad.

Pakistan and India are set to play each other in the Champions Trophy. While the venue of the clash between the two nations is yet undecided, UAE and Sri Lanka have emerged out as favourites for the heated encounter. Pakistan are the defending Champions Trophy winners, having beaten India in the fin?als of the 2017 edition of the tournament. Both sides have faced each other five times in the tournament??, with Pakistan winning thrice. 

Also Read: A??hmed Shehzad reveals his all time Pakistan XI; no place for Babar Azam, Shaheen ??Afridi

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Pakistan‘s cricket team faced a devastating and humiliating 10-wicket defeat against Bangladesh during the first Test match in Rawalpindi, as part of Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan 2024. The loss, coming on home soil, has raised serious concerns about the state of Pakistan cricket, which appears to be spiraling into an unprecedented decline.

Ahmad Shahzad on Pakistan’s humiliating defeat

Ahmad Shahzad did not hold back in his criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the state of the team. Shahzad took to social media, posting a video on X (formerly known as Twitter), where he expressed deep disappointment and frustration at the current situation. He minced no words as he discussed the gravity of the defeat, calling it a symptom of a much larger problem? plaguing Pakistan cricket.

“Pakistan team ka itihasik patan shuru ho chuka hai. Desh ke saath baar baar jhoot bola gaya hai aur aaj, Bangladesh ke haathon itihasik zaleel kar dene wali shikast ke baad, phir se ek ganda mazaak khela gaya hai. Desh ko kisse puchna chahiye aur kis ka gala pakde? In sab halaton ka zimmedar kaun hai?�?(The historic downfall of the Pakistan team has begun. The nation has been lied to again and again and today, after the historic humiliating defeat by Bangladesh, the dirty joke has been played again. Whom should the nation ask for an answer from and whose throat should they grab? Who is responsible for all these situations?)

پاکستان ٹیم کا تاریخی زوال شروع ہو چکا ہے۔ قوم کے ساتھ بار بار جھوٹ بولا گیا اور آج بنگلہ دیش سے تاریخی ذلّت آمیز شکست کے بعد پھر سے گھناؤنا مذاق کیا گیا۔ قوم اب کس سے جواب طلب کرے اور کس کا گلا پکڑے؟ ان سب حالات کا اصل ذمےدار کون؟؟#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/AdXZhy3z7n

— Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) August 25, 2024

Also READ:‘Aapne pichle 5 saalon se kuch n??ahi seekha�? Kamran Akmal lashes o??ut at Pakistan following 10-wicket defeat against Bangladesh

Shahzad blames Pakistan Cricket Board

Shahzad went on to describe how the defeat marked a new low for Pakistan cricket, further intensifying the agony that had been building up ove??r recent months due to repeated lo?sses.

“Maine apni zindagi mein kabhi Pakistan ko itna neeche nahi dekha. Batting, bowling aur fielding ka toh kisi aur din baat hogi, lekin yeh Pakistan cricket ka ek naya neecha point hai. Is shikast se ubharna unke liye bohot mushkil hoga. Woh aaj tak Afghanistan ke khilaaf wali haar se nahi ubhar paaye hain.” (I haven’t seen Pakistan go this low in my life. Batting, bowling, and fielding is a discussion for another day. But this is a new low in Pakistan cricket. It will be very tough for them to recover from this defeat. They haven’t recovered from the defeat against Afghanistan until today).

The former cricketer emphasized that the root of the problem lies in short-term decision-making by the PCB, which has had detrimental effects on the team’s performance. He criticized the board for their inability to develop a solid long-term plan and failing to strengthen the domestic cricket structure.

�?em>Maine pehle hi kaha tha ke agar aap short term decisions loge, toh yeh aapki cricket ko nuqsaan pohchayega. Pakistan cricket waise hi andheron ki taraf ja rahi hai, lekin humne yeh umeed nahi ki thi ke Bangladesh ke khilaaf haarenge.�?I told earlier that if you take short-term decisions, it will hamper your cricket. Pakistan cricket is already heading towards darkness, but we did not expect to lose against Bangladesh).

Poor player management and development 

The right-handed batter also defended the players, placing the blame squarely on the PCB for mishandling the situation and pushing players to their limits without giving proper opportunities to domestic talent. He noted the lack of player development and emphasized that it was the PCB’s failure to create a sustainable pipeline of talent, rather than the players’ fault.

“Players ka koi kasoor nahi hai. Kasoor PCB ka hai kyunke players ne kabhi zabardasti team mein lene ko nahi kaha. Yeh aap ho jo unhe lagataar khela rahe ho. Yeh aap ho jo domestic cricketers ko aage nahi aane de rahe ho. Aap khud maante ho ke domestic cricket mein kaafi players nahi hain. Agar aisa hai, toh aapne kya banaya hai?�?(Players are not at fault. PCB is at fault because players never asked to be picked forcefully. It’s you who are making them play constantly. It’s you who are not letting domestic cricketers come along. You admit that there are not enough players in domestic cricket. If this is the case, what have you made?)

Also PAK vs BAN [WATCH]: Shakib Al Hasan’s outburst sparks controversy? on the Day 5 of first Test

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Ahmed Shehzad, a former cricketer, recently revealed his ultimate Pakistan XI during a local channel show, focusing solely on legends from previous generations as current players failed to find a place in Shehzad’s line-up.

Pakistan’s opening duo

Shehzad chose Saeed Anwar and Majid Khan as his opening pair. He praised Anwar’s versatility across the ground and admired Majid’s stylish batting and numerous records from his era.

“Saeed Anwar was a universally loved player who could dominate from any position on the field. I’ve watched many videos of Majid Khan, and his batting style was elegant with numerous records from his era,” Shehzad was quoted as saying by Pakistan Today.

Middle-Order Maestros

In the middle order, Shehzad included Zaheer Abbas, known for his aesthetic cover drives and dominance over bowlers. Younis Khan, recognized for his diligent work ethic and impressive stats, was a must-have for Shehzad. Javed Miandad, a childhood hero of Shehzad’s, found his place due to his undeniable impact. Shahid Afridi‘s dual ability to smash sixes and bowl spin made him a challenging but deserving choice. Moin Khan was sel??ected as the wick?et-keeper for his neat takes behind the stumps.

“He [Zaheer Abbas] was pleasing to the eye, the cover drive was great and used to dominate the bowlers. Younis Khan was a hard-working player with very good stats. Having him on any side is icing on the cake. I know I have placed him below but how can I miss Javed Miandad? Growing up watching him play, I had to adjust to him somewhere in my team. Shahid Afridi is the batter who can hit sixes and bowl spin. It was a tough call but for the wicketkeeper spot, Moin Khan used to take neat takes with the ball going smoothly in his gloves,” the 32-year-old added.

Also READ: Wasim Akram names his choice for Pa??kistan’s captainc??y after their T20 World Cup 2024 exit

Bowling powerhouses

Shehzad’s bowling lineup featured Saqlain Mushtaq, credited as the ‘Doosra’ pioneer, for his match-winning performances and impressive statistics. Wasim Akram, an iconic figure in cricket, was an automatic selection due to his legendary achievements. Mohammad Zahid, known for ??his pace and skill, added depth to the pace attack alongside Shoaib Akhtar, one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history.

“Saqlain has won us matches and has great stats. It’s impossible if someone is playing in their childhood and is not following Wasim Akram and his achievements. Zahid played very little cricket and I remember once Brian Lara said, he is the fastest I have ever played,” Shehzad concluded.

No place for Babar Azam

Shehzad’s decision to exclude current captain Babar Azam from his ultimate Pakistan XI and other high-profile platers like Shaheen Afridi shows his doubt on the potential on the current crop, especially given Babar’s stature as one of Pakistan’s modern cricketing icons known for his consistent run-scoring and leadership qualities.

However, Pakistan faced an embarrassing defeat in the T20 World Cup 2024, exiting at the group stage. Throughout the tournament, Shehzad’s frustration over Babar’s captaincy has become increasingly apparent. Several media reports indicated tension between Shehzad and skipper Babar, with whom he had previously shared the field in age-group cricket.

Also READ: Who was the Einstein who made Babar Azam captain?�?: Shoaib Akhtar rips apart Pakistan skipper ??after abysmal T20 World Cup 2024 performance

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Pakistan’s premature exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has sparked a firestorm on social media, with captain Babar Azam and his team facing widespread criticism. The controversy escalated following the emergence of a video showing Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf in a confrontation with a fan, prompting several teammates to voice their support for him. In response, former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad launched ?a blistering attack, calling for players to end their holidays abroad and ret?urn home.

Ahmed Shehzad’s scathing critique

Shehzad, who has been vocal in his criticism of Babar and the team in recent weeks, condemned the players for backing Rauf rather than apologizing to the fans. He expressed disappointment that the players chose to post messages supporting Rauf instead of taking responsibility for the team’s poor performance in the World Cup.

“While we fully condemn what happened to Haris Rauf, it is also important that the posts put up by the players in support of Haris should be taken away from the fans due to his poor performance in the World Cup. It should have been as an apology,” Shehzad wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Also READ: Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf reveals the reason? behind his v??iral altercation with a fan in USA

Calls for accountability

Shehzad accused the under-fire Pakistani cricketers of attempting to divert attention from? their failures by posting supportive messages. He dema?nded accountability from the players, emphasizing their lack of major achievements for Pakistan in the last five years.

“It would be good if these players would apologize to the nation, if these players would be ashamed, and if these players would return to Pakistan instead of spending holidays in America, England, or Dubai. These posts by the players should not change the narrative and the fans should get answers for the poor performances of the players,” added Shehzad.

Emphasis on collective success

Highlighting what he sees as a focus on personal milestones over team success, Shehzad underscored the need for a shift in priorities among Pakistan’s players.

“Accountability is very important now. The same group of players have not won anything for our country in the last five years and they have kept prioritizing personal milestones rather than the collective success of Pakistan,” Shehzad added further.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2024 �?Did Gary Kirsten actually say ‘Pakistan te?am lacks unity�? Here is the truth

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Babar Azam, the current captain of the Pakistan cricket team, enjoys immense popularity and adoration among cricket fans around the world. Often referred to as the ‘King’ by his admirers, Babar has built a reputation for his elegant batting style and consistent performances across formats.

Babar Azam’s criticism over his T20I performance

Despite his widespread acclaim, Babar ha?s faced criticism for his performance in T20 Internationals. Con??cerns have been raised about his strike rate and overall impact in major tournaments. Critics argue that his statistics do not match the expectations set by his title as one of the premier batters in the world.

Ahmed Shehzad’s harsh take on Babar

Former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad has been particularly vocal in his critique of Babar. Shehzad recently accused ?Babar of having inflated statistics that do not reflect his actual performance in crucial matches. In a video? shared by Geo News, Shehzad highlighted several areas where he believes Babar has underperformed and even claimed that Babar is a fake king.

“You have a strike rate of 112. You have an average of 26 in ICC events. You have played 207 balls in the powerplay but haven’t hit a single six. I think my stats from eight years ago are better than yours. You are a fake King! We play to help win Pakistan tournaments but you are only making a fool of fans on social media with your stats,” said Shehzad in a video shared by Geo News.

Also WATCH: Pa?kistan’s captain Babar Azam gives a touching present to an emotional child mascot | T20 World Cup 2024

More accusations on Babar

Furthermore, Shehzad alleged that Babar has deliberately excluded deserving domestic players to maintain personal rela?tionships with certain underperforming players. He called for Babar to take responsibility for his lack of success in bringing trophies to ??Pakistan.

“The least you can do now is raise your hand and say that ‘I was given all the support and resources from PCB. I got the players that I wanted but I couldn’t deliver silverware for Pakistan. I am really sorry.’ Now it is your time to go back to domestic cricket to improve your stats and then come back in the Pakistan team,” added Shehzad.

"بابر کا کبھی احتساب نہیں کیا گیا"
"آپ جعلی کنگ ہیں، آپ کے اسٹیٹس مجھ سےبھی گھٹیا ہیں"
بابراعظم سے موازنہ کرنے پر احمد شہزاد جذباتی ہوگئے pic.twitter.com/fUdrbjzZXU

— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) June 13, 2024

Also WATCH: Yuvraj Singh pokes fun at Shahid Afridi after India’s win over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 20?24

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Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has opened up on his exodus from the national team, accusing former head coach Waqar Younis for his career decline. The right-handed batter has e?xpressed his frustration at not being able to present his case properly.

Notably, Shehzad reached quite a few heights in his career before injuries and a poor run of form sidelined him from the squad. The opening?? batter, who last played for the national side in 2019, blamed Younis for his departure from the Test and ODI team in 2016, claiming it was a pre-planned approach to throw him out of the side.

Shehzad spoke about the report that Waqar presented in 2016, which remarked that Umar Akmal and Shehzad must pla?y in the domestic circuit to reclaim their spot on the side. Shehzad reckoned that these discussions should be done face-to-face but was not allowed to present his case.

“I have not seen the report myself, but a PCB official told me that these remarks have been said regarding me. But I believe these things should be discussed face-to-face, and I am ready to take on that challenge. Then we will see who is right and who is wrong. Their words hurt my career, especially since I was not allowed to present my case. This was a pre-planned approach, and they wanted to kill two birds with one stone,�?/em> said Shehzad in an interview to Cricket Pakistan.