Ahmed Shehzad Criticizes Pakistan’s Squad Selection for England Test, Labels Champions One-Day Cup as “Dhoka Cup”
Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has strongly criticized the national selection committee, led by Mohammad Yousuf, for excluding Kamran Ghulam from the squad for the upcoming Test against England in Multan. The Test is scheduled to take place from October 7-11.
Expressing his frustration on his YouTube channel, Shehzad questioned the rationale behind ignoring Kamran Ghulam, despite his stellar performances, which include two centuries in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup. He also voiced discontent with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who recently commented on the need for a “surgery” in Pakistan cricket following the team’s exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Labeling the Champions One-Day Cup as the “Dhoka Cup” (Fraud Cup), Shehzad criticized the tournament’s credibility and questioned the selection process.
“Kamran Ghulam has been ignored once again, and Mohammad Yousuf hasn’t included him in Pakistan’s 15-member squad. Let’s not forget, this is the same team that just returned after a disastrous World Cup campaign, where they couldn’t even qualify for the knockout stage. They lost to the USA, were whitewashed by Bangladesh, and now they’re acting as if nothing happened,” Shehzad said.
He also took a swipe at the idea of a “surgery” in Pakistan cricket, claiming that no real changes have been made despite the poor performances. “After these losses, they talked about surgery but did nothing. Then they dropped another surprise with this ‘Dhoka Cup,’ saying the top performers would be selected. Yet, Kamran Ghulam, who has performed well, has been overlooked again,” he added.
Shehzad further criticized the inclusion of injured players like Aamer Jamal and Shaheen Afridi, while consistent performers like Mohammad Ali, Kamran Ghulam, and Sahibzada Farhan were left out.
“The team includes players who aren’t fully fit, like Aamer Jamal and Shaheen Afridi. Meanwhile, players like Kamran Ghulam and Sahibzada Farhan, who have performed consistently in domestic cricket, are ignored. What more does Kamran need to do to get selected? Is his only mistake that he plays in the same position as Babar Azam?” Shehzad questioned.
He also raised concerns over Mohammad Yousuf’s selection decisions, asking if the committee was giving the younger generation a fair opportunity. “You’ve played so much cricket, Mohammad Yousuf, but what are these selection decisions? What are you expecting from this team when you continue making the same mistakes? Why aren’t you giving new players a chance?” Shehzad said.
He emphasized that the blame for the poor performances had been placed on selectors like Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq, while Yousuf continues to hold his position despite the team’s failures.
In his concluding remarks, Shehzad sent a disheartening message to domestic players, advising them to give up their hopes of playing for the national team due to the lack of fairness in the selection process.
“My message to domestic players is simple: it’s better to change your profession now. Don’t hold on to your dreams of playing for Pakistan because the system is not designed to give you justice. The people in charge are only focused on their own connections,” he said.
Shehzad also mocked the PCB’s efforts to fix internal issues through initiatives like the “connection camp,” calling it a “Refugee Camp” and accusing officials of not addressing the real problems within Pakistan cricket.
“You’re told that Pakistan cricket will be fixed through these ‘connection camps’ and other gimmicks. But the truth is, Pakistan cricket is going downhill day by day, and the people running it are not fixing anything,” Shehzad concluded.
