'Who brought him into the team?': Pakistan's World Cup winning star questions PCB's squad selection after team's humiliating loss vs New Zealand

Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2009 winning star Ahmed Shehzad lashed out at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their squad selection against New Zealand. After the flop show in Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan revamped their T20I squad, appointing Salman Ali Agha and a new captain and Shadab Khan as his deputy.

PCB recalled Shadab Khan who was out of the Pakistan side since his poor showings at the 2024 T20 World Cup co-hosted in the West Indies and the USA. The all-rounder made his comeback in the first T20I against New Zealand where he managed to score just three runs. However, Pakistan as a unit had a day to forget as they were bundled out for 91 and gave away the runs in 10.1 overs.

“You’re talking about Shadab—tell me, what performance has he delivered? Who brought him into the team? Let this series pass first. The PCB has a different plan with Shadab, and he was included in the team for a different purpose,” Ahmed Shehzad said as quoted by IndianExpress.

“We were dismissed, but how many wickets did we take? Our senior, experienced bowling attack—what have they done? Where do you see them delivering any kind of threatening bowling, whether they are right-handed or left-handed?” Shehzad added.

Shehzad also questioned the Pakistan's National Cricket Academy (NCA). He alleges that NCA adjust their own people and secure salaries.

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“When we used to play, the National Cricket Academy (NCA) held big camps, and players were developed from there. That place is supposed to be a nursery for talent—not just a setup where you adjust your own people and secure salaries. It was established to produce players. So where are those players now? How many have emerged?” Shehzad asked.

The right-handed batter also slammed former cricketer and current NCA Director Nadeem Khan questioning his role and accountability in player development.

“Is there any responsibility or accountability? They are supposed to produce players for Pakistan. You can’t put everything on the players. What has Nadeem Khan produced at the NCA? Why is no one questioning him? The NCA is such a big institution—what players have they developed? On what basis was he appointed there, and who put him in charge? What qualifications or credentials did he have to be given that position?” Shehzad concluded.

New Zealand are currently leading 1-0 against Pakistan in the five-match T20I series. The second T20I will take place on 18 March at University Oval in Dunedin, New Zealand.