Ahmed Shehzad: “First of all, you came in through the back door. You’re neither a performer nor a regular in domestic cricket. Despite not performing at all, you’re getting the backing. You didn’t even do rehab after getting injured”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Veteran Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad has blasted spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan, saying he “came in through the back door”.
He questioned how Shadab continues to get picked in the national team despite rarely featuring in domestic cricket and, when he does, failing to deliver strong performances.
Shadab recently featured in Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Australia and took two wickets at an average of 69.
He had a lot more success with the bat, amassing 100 runs, which included a top score of 71, at an average of 100.
“First of all, you came in through the back door. You’re neither a performer nor a regular in domestic cricket. Despite not performing at all, you’re getting the backing. You didn’t even do rehab after getting injured,” Shehzad was quoted as saying by NDTV.
Having not played Test cricket since August 2020, Shadab was not selected for Pakistan’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies and England.
The men in green will play two Tests against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6 before travelling to England for a three-Test series 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