Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad: “I feel very sad. I still want to play. After every auction, the days are particularly difficult for me. PSL started in front of my eyes. I have given 18 years to cricket, and suddenly everything feels gone. It hurts a lot. I miss it, and sometimes I cry”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has revealed that he sometimes cries as he still harbours a strong desire to play professional cricket.
Shehzad said he remains eager to feature in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but is unable to understand why he continues to be overlooked.
The 34-year-old also questioned why no one has approached him to explain why he is not being picked by any PSL franchise.
“I feel very sad. I still want to play. After every auction, the days are particularly difficult for me. PSL started in front of my eyes. I have given 18 years to cricket, and suddenly everything feels gone. It hurts a lot. I miss it, and sometimes I cry,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
“Why doesn’t someone come and talk to me and ask what happened? Let’s sort it out. New teams are being added to the PSL. One team even thought I was banned or had retired from cricket. There is no clarity about me..
“This time, what hurts most is that my nine-year-old son wanted me to play. My son sleeps next to me and says, ‘Baba, I remember you used to play. But now I will remember you better.’ That is what makes me emotional.”
The Pakistan team recently played two Tests against Bangladesh and three ODIs against Australia, which they lost 2-0 and won 2-1 respectively.
Next up for them will be a tour of the West Indies, which will comprise two Tests in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
The men in green will then head to England to play three Tests, which will be held between August 19 and September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah