Pakistan cricket has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons lately. From constant changes in the PCB regime to dismal performances in all forms of the game, the current scenario is not ideal by any means.

During the ODI World Cup in India last year, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals after losing to India, Afghanistan, Australia, South Africa and England.

The Men in Green then faced a first-round exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which included a defeat against debutants USA.

As if the World Cup humiliations were not enough, Pakistan recently suffered an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test.

Amid the debacles, former Pakistan cricketers have been quite critical of the country’s cricket board. Out-of-favour opening batter Ahmad Shahzad is also among them.

In a post shared on X, Shahzad said he is pulling out of the upcoming Champions Cup due to 'favoritism, false promises, and injustice.'

"With a heavy heart, I've decided not to play in the Domestic Cricket Champions Cup. The PCB's favoritism, false promises, and injustice towards domestic players are unacceptable. In a time when Pakistan is struggling with inflation, poverty, and massive electricity bills, the PCB is wasting 5 million Rs on mentors for doing nothing and rewarding failed players in the current team who brought Pakistan cricket to an All-time Low," Shahzad wrote.

"It's even more disrespectful that the PCB claims they don't have 'instruments for surgery' which is a huge disrespect for domestic players. As a Pakistani and true cricket lover, I cannot support a system that has no value for merit. I refuse to be a part of this failed setup," he added.

Ahmad Shahzad also shared a video on X, in which he slammed the PCB for appointing Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Saqlain Mushtaq as mentors for the five teams in the Champions One-Day Cup.

"The condition of Pakistan cricket team is such that PCB needs some names that can stand in front to protect them so that they come in the line of fire. We have had such discussions before also.  The lower the level of Pakistan cricket teams falls, the higher the money paid to these people. Even though they have coaching staff, but no disrespect, just like there are maids working at homes and the women of the house point out the dirty areas after a while, the work of the PCB looks the same," he remarked.