Ahmed Shehzad calls out PCB's scapegoating of Shaheen Afridi

Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has raised serious questions and concerns regarding the treatment of Shaheen Afridi. Shehzad expressed his discontent with the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) scapegoating of the left-arm pacer, who has often been criticized for the team's failures.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ahmed Shehzad pointed out a concerning trend, where Afridi is frequently blamed for various issues within the Pakistan cricket team, and dropped from the team citing nonsense reasons like injuries and workload management by the PCB.

Ahmed Shehzad slams PCB for blaming Shaheen Afridi for everything amid Pakistan's struggles

He hinted at a pattern where excuses are being made to justify Shaheen Afridi's potential exclusion from the squad and said that this tactic diminishes the star fast bowler's contributions and mental fortitude. Shehzad also predicted that Shaheen will not get regular chances in the Pakistan cricket team ahead.

Ahmed Shehzad said on his YouTube channel: “Like always, the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to make Shaheen Shah Afridi the scapegoat this time. Briefings have taken place, and in the coming times, you will see Shaheen on and off the team. The reason given will be that he has bowled the most, he has bowled a lot of overs, he is facing workload issues, he has injuries, and family reasons. All these justifications are presented when a player is removed from the team.”

The former opener also shared his views on the recent comments made by Pakistan’s Test head coach Jason Gillespie about the aging Sarfaraz Ahmed. The new head coach urged for young blood to replace Sarfaraz as the wicketkeeper in the team.

Well, Ahmed Shehzad acknowledged Sarfaraz’s crucial role and contribution to the national team, but he agreed that it’s time to explore new talent, emphasizing that the PCB must secure a robust backup plan, especially for the senior players.

Jason Gillespie raises a crucial point: Ahmed Shehzad

The Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad added, “Jason Gillespie said that 'Sarfaraz is not getting younger anymore; we need to keep finding youngsters.' He also mentioned that there can't be too many changes in the Pakistan team because they have only lost one series so far, and potential players can't just be ruled out after a single series.”

Ahmed Shehzad further noted, “Sarfaraz Ahmed has made significant contributions to Pakistan cricket but must now consider his career direction, especially as he’s not getting younger. Jason Gillespie raises a crucial point, but is there a capable replacement for him in the pipeline?”

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old was not happy with Gillespie's decision to retain the same squad for the upcoming Test series against England, especially in light of the recent whitewash at the hands of Bangladesh. He also highlighted the lack of unity within the Pakistan team.

He pointed out that the Pakistan team has lost only one Test series since Gillespie's arrival, but the struggles before that were worst. Ahmed Shehzad emphasized that every coach experiences challenges when they first take charge, and players should not be excluded from the team due to early losses.

Furthermore, Ahmed Shehzad cited how Ricky Ponting managed discipline within his team as a model to follow. However, he warned against allowing players to manipulate the PCB, especially given the influence of strong players and agents. He concluded by urging for serious decisions to be made now to avoid future complaints about the system.