Kamal Ghorui
Pakistan cricket’s recurring pattern of hype followed by disappointment and backlash has resurfaced once again after another underwhelming run. An early exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Super Eight stage was followed by a 1-2 ODI series loss in Bangladesh, triggering sharp criticism from former opener Ahmed Shehzad.Shehzad’s remarks were not limited to selection debates or leadership questions. Instead, he targeted what he believes is a deeper structural issue within the Pakistan Cricket Board. According to him, the board spent years promoting a select group of players as the faces of both the national team and the Pakistan Super League, only to find itself struggling when results began to decline.“The calibre of your players is not at that level, which was built up as a baran by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5 and 7 years ago. These 6-8 boys they are also the face of the PSL. They are also the face of our Pakistan team. Will they change Pakistan’s desitny?” Ahmed Shehzad questioned in a video posted on his YouTube channel.He further accused the board of heavily backing this core group through endorsements, leadership roles, and financial support, while failing to ensure accountability.“You provided all the sponsorships to those boys, endorsed them, and invested money in them. You have them captaincies in the PSL, right? You made them the thumb of the Pakistan team. You handed over the entire Pakistan cricket team to those 6 boys and their agents. And what have they done now? The fire they have lit in the jungle, the fun and parties they have had, the pockets they have filled, the enjoyment they have had, they haven’t given Pakistan any wins by doing so,” Shehzad said.His criticism reflects a long-standing concern around Pakistan cricket’s approach, where certain players are repeatedly elevated as central figures without consistent results to justify that backing. Shehzad argued that the issue is not just performance but the lack of responsibility shown by the players.“Such is the audacity that even today, they are ready to admit that we are responsible. Not a single one of those players. Even today, they play the blame game. Even today, their ego is such that it isn’t breaking. So weak is the Pakistan Cricket Board now,” he added.He also questioned the board’s authority, suggesting it has lost control over the very players it empowered.“Whenever you talk about any player, they start spinning stories. I have never seen the Pakistan Cricket Board this weak in my life, as weak as this PCB is. They have power, right? But in their decision-making, they appear to be kneeling before their players. This PCB can’t do anything. The work they were supposed to do – bringing in new faces – they didn’t. What they do is, after every event, they try to pull a new trick, but the public has now caught their pattern,” he said.For Shehzad, the issue goes far beyond a single series defeat or tournament exit. He believes Pakistan cricket is grappling with a larger systemic problem, where star-making has taken precedence over renewal and accountability, leaving the team stuck in a cycle it has struggled to break.
