ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Ahmed Shehzad explodes after Pakistan’s exit, exposes PCB’s corruption

As soon as Pakistan was unofficially eliminated from the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Ahmed Shehzad exploded in anger and launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the selectors, and the team management.

Pakistan suffered crushing defeats in their first two matches of the tournament, knocking them out of the semifinal race. In their opening group match, New Zealand handed the Men in Green a 60-run defeat in Karachi, and then India crushed them by six wickets in the second group match in Dubai.

Their hopes then rested on the New Zealand-Bangladesh match, but the Black Caps shattered their dreams on Monday (February 24). New Zealand defeated Bangladesh by five wickets to confirm their semifinal spot while sealing Pakistan’s elimination from the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Ahmed Shehzad blasts PCB after Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 exit

Ahmed Shehzad has pointed out that Pakistan’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was not surprising, as issues had been building up for a long time. He questioned the PCB’s decision-making, especially regarding team selection and management.

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Ahmed Shehzad said on the Geo News show ‘Haarna Mana Hai’: “We’ve seen it all; we know it all. They ask for a solution from us. What solution can we give you? Even after explaining everything, nothing changes. Do you even listen to anyone? The PCB chairman came and spoke about a "surgery." But what surgery?”

He said that as part of their surgery, they brought back Mohammad Amir only to blame him for the 2024 T20 World Cup failure. He also claimed that the players were not chosen based on performance but as part of a strategy for the tournament, so the results should not be surprising.

The truth is we tried to hide their weaknesses: Ahmed Shehzad

Ahmed Shehzad added, “After the T20 World Cup, the blame was unfairly placed on just two players. A selector was removed, yet his salary wasn’t even stopped. Is this accountability? Then, they brought in so-called mentors, placing them on TV channels, and paying them 50-60 lakhs in salary. Do you think they will speak the truth? Will they criticize those who pay them? Of course not.

This disastrous performance isn’t new. We’ve seen it before. They keep asking for support—how much more should we support them? Should we keep defending failures? The truth is, we tried to hide their weaknesses. We believed this team could deliver. But in reality, they couldn’t even handle two matches. This is their skill level and this is the truth of this team.”

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He pointed out that the Pakistan cricket team has been plagued with internal conflicts, groupings, captaincy issues, and personal problems, which are ruining the team atmosphere and destroying the team.

Ahmed Shehad also mentioned once such things enter a dressing room, they don’t just disappear. The only solution is to remove those players who spread such things.

Will anyone take responsibility?

Shehzad revealed that the PCB and selectors were aware of the players’ struggle but they backed them for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 citing they can’t make a new team in six months after the T20 World Cup debacle last year. So, they went there only to lose.

The cricket pandit questioned: “What will you do now? Will you still do accountability or not? Will you still come and speak truthfully or not? Will you have surgery or not? If you don’t have the tools to fix this mess, tell us—we’ll provide them for you. But enough is enough.”

Ahmed Shehzad said that they respect everyone and don’t question anyone’s intentions and even some may truly want to bring positive change, but the people the PCB and selectors have chosen are the same 10-12 individuals stuck in the flawed system.

Ahmed Shehzad signed off by saying, “Take a step back and see whether they have done anything good for the country, or have they only made things worse? The answers are right in front of us. But will anyone take responsibility?”

Ahmad Shehzad 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/4EXLBKMOut

— -invader 🇵🇸 (@sshayaannn) February 24, 2025