Ahmad Shahzad hasn't played for Pakistan since 2019.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ramiz Raja, has strongly reacted to batter Ahmad Shahzad's recent bold remarks against the senior and former Pakistani cricketers and asked him to perform with the bat instead of making such comments.
Recently, Shahzad slammed the Pakistan team management for spoiling and hurting his career and also claimed that the former and senior cricketers don’t digest the success of the cricketers.
Ramiz Raja said during a press conference: “See, I too have made comebacks. This is pure frustration that gets to a player. They start blaming everyone. I think he needs to introspect.
When you are out of the team, your patience is tested, your temperament is tested, and your hard work is tested. So my message to him is, 'let the bat do the talking'. Keep scoring, there is no way you will be dropped from the team.”
The PCB chairman cited Shan Masood as an example and suggested that Shahzad score runs in domestic cricket to make his comeback to the Pakistan team.
Raja added, “Look at Shan Masood. He has forced himself back into the team through the sheer number of runs.”
Notably, Masood scored plenty of runs during the English County Championship and T20 Blast to regain his place in the Pakistan Test team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.
Shahzad has played 13 Tests, 81 ODIs, and 59 T20Is for Pakistan since making his debut in 2009. However, he has been out of the national setup since 2019.
(Hindustan Times inputs)