Pakistan National Cricket Team batsman Ahmed Shehzad, 32, who is currently not in the scheme of things for the national team, launched an attack on Pakistan batsmen for their poor shot selections in the second Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh National Cricket Team.
Pakistan’s batsmen have had a rather poor performance in the second Test against Bangladesh at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. In the first innings, they managed to score just 274 runs in 85.1 overs, with only three players – Shan Masood, Saim Ayub and Salman Agha – managing to score half-centuries.
Meanwhile, in the second innings, when Pakistan desperately needed runs, the batsmen once again failed to deliver. Only two players, Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman, touched the 40-run mark, and the hosts were bowled out for 172 in 46.4 overs.
In a video shared on his official X account, Ahmed Shehzad took a dig at Pakistan’s batsmen and said that Bangladesh’s bowlers were making them dance to their tunes. He then lashed out at the batsmen for playing T20 shots in Test cricket and not learning from their mistakes.
“Bangladesh bowlers are counter-attacking. And Bangladesh bowlers have again made Pakistani batsmen dance to their tune. The same shot selections we have been talking about. The T20 shots, we have seen them once again. The batsman’s bat is moving so far away from his bat.
“In T20 cricket or T10 cricket too, when a player gets bowled out like this, the coaches say this is too much. You are bowled out for hitting these shots in Test cricket. You are not learning from your mistakes. Maybe you don’t have the charm or the skills. Or maybe we are making a mistake by putting expectations on you. Or this nation is making a mistake by putting expectations on you. That you are playing with their emotions like this,” Ahmed Shehzad said in a video shared on X.
Pakistan is in a losing position as Bangladesh fights back🔥#PAKvsBAN #ShanMasood #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/7VQHuCdcij
– Ahmad Shahzad 🇵🇰 (@iamAhmadshahzad) September 2, 2024
This means it is not a coincidence – Ahmed Shehzad on Bangladesh’s dominance over Pakistan
Ahmed Shehzad further laid out the reality of Pakistan cricket, saying that the level of the team has hit rock bottom and Bangladesh’s dominance is no fluke. Ahmed Shehzad said:
“Bangladesh cricket team has come here. They have beaten you in the first match and made history. After that, they are dominating in the second match as well. This means that it is not a fluke. When you lose to Zimbabwe, Afghanistan or Ireland, these things are not a fluke. This is the reality of Pakistan cricket. You have taken Pakistan cricket to this level.”
Ahmed Shehzad also slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and blamed them for the team’s downfall. According to Ahmed Shehzad, the PCB did not take bold decisions and did everything to distract the fans but now they have been exposed.
“I don’t hold the players responsible for this. The PCB is equally responsible as the players. Because some things were right in front of us. We had to take some decisions. But we did the same thing we always do. We tried to distract the public by talking on TV. After that, we thought Bangladesh cricket would come. We will definitely beat them. When we beat them, the anger of the public will calm down. So when will we start the Pakistan Cup? Their entire plan has been reversed and has collapsed.”
At stumps on Day 4, the Bangladesh National Cricket Team was 42/0 and was just 143 runs away from a historic Test series win.