Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad lashed out at the Mohammad Rizwan-led side after their loss to New Zealand in the ODI tri-nation series final at National Stadium in Karachi. The Blackcaps defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the tri-nation series. The ex-Pakistan star slammed team management and selectors, calling them “brainless” and accusing them of making childish decisions.
Shehzad believes that Rizwan's decision of choosing to bat in the final was a 'mind-boggling decision' because the pitch becomes better to bat on at night, and the ball doesn’t grip on the surface for the spinners.
“It was a mind-boggling decision (to bat first) because we had seen in the previous match that the pitch becomes better to bat on in the night, the ball doesn’t grip on the surface for the spinners. Still, the Pakistan team decided to bat first. Brainless decision, they had no clue,” said Shehzad on his youtube.
He also reckons that Pakistan can only win matches if the opposition is underperforming or featuring without their main players.
“In a final, you are making childish decisions…you are making so many mistakes in matches. You get a chance to win only when the opposition performs below par or don’t have their main players playing,” he said.
After a flop batting show, Pakistan managed to score 242 runs. While chasing, New Zealand won the match by four wickets with 4.4 overs to spare. Tom Latham and Daryll Mitchell smashed half-centuries each to help the Kiwis win the match and clinch the title.
Both Pakistan and New Zealand will now face each other in the Champions Trophy 2025 opener clash at the same venue on February 19.