Players Were Waiting For The Opportunity, If You Don't Perform, Someone Else Will: Shahid Afridi Tells Ahmed Shehzad During A TV Debate

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi responded bluntly during a television debate with fellow Pakistan opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who is currently out of favor with the PCB selection committee.

Both cricketers appeared on Samaa TV, and things got heated when the topic turned to Shehzad’s absence from the team.

Pakistan’s cricket team has undergone a number of changes in recent years. Since 2019, many new players have joined the squad to take the position of the seasoned veterans, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Azhar Ali in the white-ball and test captaincies, respectively, and Babar Azam in the white-ball. Opener Ahmed Shehzad, who has not played for his country in nearly three years, was one of the players who lost his spot in the lineup.

Shehzad gained notoriety last month when he demanded that the board make the Waqar Younis-compiled report detailing his alleged unceremonious dismissal from the Pakistan team public. Since then, Shehzad has been on Pakistani TV networks numerous times, and just this week, the 30-year-old opener and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi participated in a television debate.

‘He has the ability to make a comeback’: Shahid Afridi

Shehzad stated that he was not given many chances to produce in 2019, the year before he was let go, while Afridi, who had already retired by that point, insisted that there were people waiting for their chance on the sideline.

“As far as Ahmed is concerned, opportunities present themselves, and it is up to you to take advantage of them.” Ahmed has a lot of chances, and he has performed in the past, but there comes a time when batsmen sit behind you, waiting for their turn.”

“Then you should be aware that you must be consistent, as each series is crucial. If you fail to deliver, someone else will take your place. When Ahmed was playing, there were players waiting for their opportunity,” Shahid Afridi said on Samaa TV.

“At the time, there were several openers waiting their turn.” They were not given much of a chance, but Ahmed was given several. Having said that, Ahmed is a strong personality with the potential to make a comeback,” the Shahid Afridi added.

Ahmed Shahzad has six hundred and fourteen half-centuries in his One Day International career.  He is the first cricketer from Pakistan to make a century in all three formats.

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