Pakistan’s dream of qualifying to the T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8s crushed on Friday (June 14) after the USA versus Ireland match was washed out in Lauderhill, Florida.  

Rain and wet outfield forced the abandonment even without toss happening as USA progressed to the Super 8 stage from Group A alongside India.

Following the first-round elimination, the Men in Green players are drawing flak from all quarters. Out-of-favour Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad has also come down heavily on Babar Azam and his troops

Shehzad called for wholesale changes in the team, beginning with the removal of key players such as Babar, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, and Haris Rauf.

"For the past four-five years, Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammed Rizwan and Haris Rauf have played in almost all the Pakistan matches. This lot has got more opportunities than it should," Shehzad said while speaking on Geo News.

He also claimed that the lack of leadership and personal milestones are the main reasons behind Pakistan team’s downfall in recent times.

"The kind of groupings that are happening in the team… There is a lack of leadership. They keep saying they're learning from their mistakes. Aap kya seekh rahe hain? Against Canada, when you needed to up your run rate.. Rizwan scored the slowest fifty, Babar scored run-a-ball 33. There were no demons on that pitch. Personal milestone ne humari cricket ko tabaah kar diya. Aap kehte hai leadership, nahi hai aapke paas leadership. Aapke paas bas itna hai ki social media generated 'King' hai," Shehzad remarked.

He further added, "You've had four to five years and you didn't win anything. You guys play politics, you guys don't have the required fitness level. You have already played your peak cricket and now your cricket is declining. You have not let anyone else come into the team. Till now you have maintained friendships only."

Shehzad was also critical of PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi regarding Babar Azam's captaincy and the appointment of Wahab Riaz as selector.

"PCB chairman, who joined two months ago, has already taken two bad decisions in his tenure. First, he reinstated Babar Azam as captain. It was the worst decision because he was given enough chances as captain. He was tried and tested. Then he picked Wahab Riaz as selector, who has handled things very unprofessionally in the past two months," he said.

Shehzad asked the PCB to remove players who are causing issues within the team.

"Now people will come and scare the PCB chief that if he removes 7-8 cricketers, then the team won't survive. But these are the guys, who are putting friendships over the country and if you remove only two or three from this lot then it would be injustice for them. Remove all of them," he stated.

Notably, Pakistan suffered a shocking Super Over defeat at the hands of USA in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener, followed by a narrow six-run loss against arch-rivals India.

While Babar Azam’s team bounced back to defeat Canada by seven wickets, their elimination from the tournament was decided after the match between USA and Ireland was abandoned due to inclement weather.

Pakistan will face Ireland, a dead-rubber, in their last group-stage match in Florida on Sunday (June 16).