Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for allowing Pakistani players to participate in international leagues after failing to deliver for the Men in Green in the T20 World Cup 2024. Out-of-favour Pakistani batter Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for allowing Pakistani players to participate in international leagues after a horror show in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
In the ninth edition of the men’s shortest format megaevent, which was played in the West Indies and USA, Pakistan suffered shocking defeats against the USA and India in the first two matches to crash out of the tournament from the group stage itself.
Pakistan’s poor show in World Cup 2024 T20Is
In what was the worst campaign, the Pakistan team had a torrid outing in the T20 World Cup 2024. The Babar Azam-led side couldn’t get going at all as they played poor cricket throughout and it led to their early exit from the tournament, in the United States of America leg.
Pakistan didn’t have a great start to the tournament as they lost to the United States of America which in itself was a biggest disappointment. The Men in Green lost the game in the Super Over and they faced a lot of criticism for losing to the associate nation despite being the finalists of the last T20 World Cup.
It was expected that Pakistan would come up with a better performance in the next game but it was the same case. They played better cricket in the game against India but couldn’t win the match as Indian bowlers snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat.
With two back-to-back losses in the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan came under a lot of pressure and their qualification for the Super 8 was dependent on the result of the game between the United States of America and Ireland National Cricket Team. But the game ended in a washout and it meant curtains for the Babar Azam-led side.
As Pakistan suffered an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, they faced a lot of criticism. Apart from that there were a lot of reports which claimed that things were not right in the Pakistan dressing room as players are not gelling well with each other. According to 32-year-old Shehzad, who last played for Pakistan in 2019, Pakistani players have no shame, as after failing to perform for the national team, they have asked permission to play in other leagues.
In his tweet on Wednesday evening, the 2009 T20 World Cup winner questioned the PCB’s decision and also inquired about the big surgery promised by the PCB chairman in the aftermath of a poor show in the United States.
Ahmed Shehzad slams PCB over favoritism for granting NOCs post T20I World Cup debacle.
Former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad believes there’s a need for transparency in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with regard to players receiving No Objection Certificates (NOC). The NOC is needed for the players to play in overseas leagues.
According to Ahmed Shehzad, the officials in the PCB provide NOCs only to those players who have an influence on the board, citing favoritism. He also mentioned that the board doesn’t provide NOCs to those players with whom they have personal differences.
Here’s what Ahmed Shehzad was quoted as saying on a local sports platform by Cricket Pakistan:
“In Pakistan cricket, the process of obtaining and granting NOCs (No Objection Certificates) has never been smooth. There is a lot of favoritism involved.
“Within the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board), favoritism is rampant even in these matters. They issue NOCs to their like-minded players or those who have some influence. When they want to unnecessarily hassle someone, they withhold their NOC.”
Ahmed Shehzad has also earlier questioned the leadership group in the Pakistan team on having selections based on friendships and not merit.
Ahmed Shehzad questioned Shadab Khan getting an NOC
Ahmed Shehzad shed light on leg-spinner Shadab Khan getting an NOC to play in the Lanka Premier League despite his poor performances for Pakistan. He felt that after delivering poor performances, players like Shadab shouldn’t have been allowed to play in overseas leagues.
On this, he stated:
“Can you tell me why you granted Shadab a NOC? He delivered the worst performance as soon as he arrived, yet you immediately gave him a NOC. Are some of his people or friends among the decision-makers in the PCB? What is the reason behind it, and why are you withholding NOCs from others? Why are you stopping others? And first, tell me, who gave your selectors permission to go play in leagues after such performances?”
The PCB have denied Naseem Shah permission to participate in The Hundred because of workload management. They had cited a similar reason for the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan not playing in GT20 Canada. Meanwhile, 12 Pakistan players have been given NOCs to play in the Major League Cricket, Caribbean Premier League, County Cricket, Lanka Premier League, World Championship of Legends, and The Hundred.