CWC 2019: Mohammad Shahzad claims he is fit, lambasts Afghanistan Cricket Board for sending him home

Shahzad was sent back home midway through the World Cup.

Mohammad Shahzad | Getty

After returning to Kabul, Mohammad Shahzad on Sunday (June 9) slammed Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) for sending him home midway through the World Cup despite him being fit.

Shahzad sustained a knee injury in the warm-up clash against Pakistan. He participated in his team’s first two fixtures against Australia and Sri Lanka. But before their third game against New Zealand, it was said that Shahzad aggravated his knee injury and won’t be available for the rest of the tournament. Ikram Ali Khil replaced Shahzad for the remainder of the quadrennial event.

“I was training at the nets when the team manager told me that I was unfit and I had to head back home. It seemed they had already asked for a replacement (Ikram Ali Khil), but I did not know that I was unfit,” Shahzad told Sportstar.

“If I was unfit then how could I play the first two matches? The physio told me that I will be alright if I take a bit of rest, and suddenly I was ruled out of the tournament. I have done so much for Afghanistan cricket and this is what happened to me,” he added.

When asked if he has spoken to any of the board officials after being sent back home, Shahzad said: “They told me that I am unfit and I am not being able to play my shots as there’s no footwork. But this is how my batting style is. I don’t move much and despite that I have scored runs.”

The 31-year-old also claimed that he even spoke to the team coach, Phil Simmons.

“He is upset but he has no role to play here. He told me in the pavilion that he has no say in the decision. The captain and the manager took the call without even consulting the coach,” he remarked.

The ACB officials, however, dismissed Shahzad’s allegations.

“We had submitted the medical reports to the ICC and only after that, the ICC has allowed us to name a replacement. Shahzad is totally injured,” ACB CEO, Asadullah Khan, quoted as saying by Sportstar.

 

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 10 Jun, 2019

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