In a sharp criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has condemned the board's strategy and selection policies following Pakistan's historic 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test on Sunday. This loss represents Bangladesh's first-ever Test victory over Pakistan on the latter's home ground.
After being bowled out for a mere 146 runs in their second innings, Pakistan set Bangladesh a modest target of 30 runs, which the visitors chased down with ease. In a video posted on X, Shehzad expressed his frustration, describing the defeat as a "new low" for Pakistan cricket.
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"Pakistan ki cricket ka haal yeh ho gaya hai ki aaj Bangladesh ne Pakistan ke home soil pe pehli dafa zindagi me Pakistan ko hara diya. Maine apni zindagi me Pakistan cricket ko itna low jaate huye kabhi nahi dekha. Kabhi zindagi me nahi dekha. Batting, bowling, fielding, achcha, bura ye toh baad ki baat he. Lekin yeh ek naya low hit kiya he Pakistan ne, jo ki maine apni Zindagi me kabhi nahi dekha [Pakistan cricket has reached a point where today Bangladesh defeated Pakistan on home soil for the first time ever. I have never seen Pakistan cricket sink so low in my life. This is a new low that Pakistan has hit, which I have never seen in my life]," Shehzad remarked.
Shehzad also indicated that Pakistan will find it difficult to recover from this defeat, similar to their struggle since the loss to Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He criticised the PCB for its short-term decisions, which he believes have led the team towards a decline akin to that of Pakistani hockey.
"Aur Pakistan iss defeat se bahut mushkil se nikal payega, jaise Afghanistan ki defeat se aaj tak nahi nikal paa raha hai. Issi tarah Pakistan is defeat se bahut mushkil se nikal payega. Humne pehle bhi bola tha. Agar aapne short term decision liye hai toh Pakistan ki team already he na zero ki taraf he, hockey wala haal ho raha hai. Lekin humne yeh nahi expect kiya tha ki aap Bangladesh se bhi har jayenge. Aaj aapne woh bhi kar dikhaya," he added.
Despite the poor performance, Shehzad did not blame the players but instead targeted the PCB for its lack of vision and poor selection policies.
"Isme players ki koi galti main nahi manta. Mujhe nahi lagta isme players ki galti hai. Galti Pakistan Cricket Board ki hai. Kyunki players kabhi bhi aapko zabardasti nahi keh rahe he ki humein aap team me daale. Aap log he jo unko lagataar khilaye jaa rahe he. Aap log he jo domestic ke players ko aane nahi de rahe. Aap hi log he jo khud hi yeh bata rahe hai ki humare paas domestic me he hi kuch nahi. Toh aapke paas domestic mein iss tarah ke players nahi he jo in logon ko replace kar sakenge, toh aapne banaya kya hai abhi tak," he argued.
Prior to this encounter, Pakistan and Bangladesh had faced each other in 13 Test matches, with Pakistan winning 12 and one ending in a draw. The Rawalpindi loss has led to calls for introspection and reforms within the PCB, as the cricketing community contemplates the ramifications of this historic defeat.
(With Agency Inputs)
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