NEW DELHI: Veteran Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has openly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the team’s recent poor performances. He also drew a stark comparison between the quality of player in IPL and PSL.“If you look at IPL, they have many superstars in their league who make the league competitive. Teams invest years there and build strength,” Shehzad said on his YouTube channel.“On the other hand, PSL has hired retired players and commentators and turned them into superstars over the last 3-4 years; even retired players become faces of your brand. They get paid, but what have they actually built? I think that sums up what PSL has become.”
Watch
Cricket stars gather for Kuldeep Yadav’s grand wedding reception | A night full of starsIn the T20 World Cup, Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals and then suffered a disappointing ODI series defeat against Bangladesh, prompting a strong reaction from the cricketer. He described the current phase as one of the weakest he has ever seen and blamed both the players and the management for the decline.
Strong criticism from players and PCB
Shehzad questioned the quality and impact of the current group of players, especially those who have been consistently supported by the board. He said, “The caliber of your players is not at the level that was built by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5-7 years ago. These 6-8 boys… are also the face of the PSL. They are also the face of our Pakistan team. Will they change Pakistan’s destiny?”He further accused the PCB of investing heavily in a small group of players without getting results. “You gave those boys all the sponsorships, supported them and invested money in them. You gave them PSL captaincy, didn’t you? You made them the thumb of the Pakistan team. You gave the entire Pakistan cricket team to those 6 boys and their agents. And now what have they done? The fire they lit in the jungle, the fun and parties they had, the pockets they enjoyed doing… so,” he added.
“PCB looks weak, players not responsible”
Shehzad also criticized the players for not taking responsibility and said that the board appeared powerless in front of them. “This is the audacity (of the players) that even today they are not ready to admit that we are responsible. Not even one of these players. Even today they are playing the blame game. Even today their ego is such that it will not break. That is how weak the Pakistan Cricket Board is now,” he said.He ended with a scathing look at the workings of the PCB, adding: “Whenever you talk about any player, they start spinning stories. I have never seen a Pakistan Cricket Board as weak as this PCB in my life. They have power, don’t they? But in their decision-making, they seem to kneel before their players. There is nothing this PCB can do. The job they were supposed to face is new after every event — they bring. pull a new trick, but the public has now caught their pattern.”
