Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad raised concerns about the treatment of left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
In his recent YouTube video, Shehzad accused the PCB of using Afridi as a scapegoat for the team’s failures, suggesting a pattern of unjust blame within the organization.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to make Shaheen Shah Afridi the scapegoat this time,” Shehzad stated, predicting that Afridi might face intermittent exclusion from the team under the guise of workload management and personal reasons.
Shehzad also addressed comments made by Pakistan’s red-ball coach, Jason Gillespie, regarding the aging Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Gillespie had suggested the need for a younger replacement for the former captain, despite Sarfaraz’s notable achievements, including leading Pakistan to victory in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
While acknowledging Sarfaraz’s contributions, Shehzad agreed with the necessity of grooming a successor but questioned the availability of a capable replacement.
Criticizing Gillespie’s decision to retain the same squad for the upcoming Test series against England, Shehzad highlighted the lack of unity within the team as a more pressing issue.
He urged Gillespie to make tough decisions to address internal discord, drawing parallels with how former Australian captain Ricky Ponting managed team discipline.
“If you want to do right by the country, Jason, make tough decisions about these groupings,” Shehzad emphasized, warning against the influence of strong players and agents within the PCB.