Pakistan cricket team. (Photo source: X(Twitter)
Ahmed Shehzad expressed his disappointment after Pakistan lost a Test match for the first time against Bangladesh on Sunday, August 25. The former Pakistan opener lashed out at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their selection process and inability to bring up talented players from the domestic circuit.
Shan Masood-led Pakistan suffered a shambolic 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the first Test of a two-match series. Bangladesh outplayed the Asian giants in all facets to register a monumental win in their cricketing history. After blowing the hosts over for 146 in the second innings, the Bangla Tigers took just 6.3 overs to chase down the paltry 30-run target.
Shehzad feels that this defeat is a new low for the Pakistan team and opined that the players will need a considerable amount of time to heal from the wound it has inflicted.
“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,” Shehzad said in a video posted on his ‘X’ handle.
“I told earlier that if you take short term decisions, it will hamper your cricket. Pakistan cricket is already towards darkness, but we did not expect to lose against Bangladesh,” he added.
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
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
Shehzad refrained from putting the entire blame on the players and instead, lambasted PCB for their operations.
“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?” Shehzad stated.
Pakistan will look to bounce back strongly in the second Test, which takes place at the same venue, starting on Friday, August 30.