 "Imran Khan and Ahmad Shahzad are the latest in many experts bashing the Pakistan team. Images: Reuters/Ahmad Shahzad on X")
Former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket team captain Imran Khan has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and chairperson Mohsin Naqvi for the national side’s embarrassing defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at home. Bangladesh’s win on Sunday at Rawalpindi was the country’s first-ever Test win against Pakistan .
Imran Khan on X wrote that Mohsin is “unqualified” to handle the duties of PCB and criticised the current Pakistan government for its poor handling of the matters.
“Cricket is the only sport the entire nation watches with great interest on TV, but even that has been destroyed by powerful quarters who brought in an unqualified, favoured official to maintain their control,” Imran Khan wrote.
“For the first time, we (Pakistan) didn’t make it to the top four in the World Cup or the top eight in T20. And yesterday, we faced an embarrassing defeat against Bangladesh, setting a new low. Just two-and-a-half years ago, this team had defeated India by 10 wickets. What has happened in these two-and-a-half years that we lost to Bangladesh by 10 wickets? The blame for all of this collapse falls on one institution.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has slammed Test captain Shan Masood for failing to read the conditions in Rawalpindi and his team selection.
“Whenever Pakistan has a match, people turn off their TVs. And this is something I’m telling you from the public’s perspective. If you go to the people, you will understand what they are saying. You can’t control the fans anymore,” Shehzad said on X.
“You are the captain of the Pakistan team now, but there is no clarity about your vision. There’s no understanding of your playing XI. You couldn’t even read the pitch. You didn’t play a spinner. The excuses you gave in the press conference, about managing player workloads with a fourth fast bowler, were incorrect. The brand of cricket we want to play, you explained it wrong,” Shehzad added.
He also criticised Massod’s performance.
“Aapki apni performance kuch nahi hai. Koi leadership skills aapne dikhayi nahi is pure match ke ander ke. Samajh aati hai aapki bowlers ne performance nahi kiya, unka caliber yahi hai. Samajh aati he ki aapki batsmen ne bura khele paanchwe din, caliber yehi hai. Lekin aap ne bhi as a leader kuch nahi kiya [Your own performance is nothing. You did not show any leadership skills throughout the match. I understand if your bowlers underperformed—that’s their caliber. I understand if your batsmen played poorly on the fifth day—that’s their level. But as a leader, you did nothing].”