Pakistan cricket’s recurring pattern of hype followed by disappointment and backlash has resurfaced again after yet another impressive performance. An early exit from the Super Eight stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, followed by a 2-1 loss in the ODI series in Bangladesh, triggered sharp criticism from the former opener Ahmed Shehzad.Shehzad’s comments were not limited to electoral debates or leadership issues. Instead, he was targeting what he saw as deeper structural issues within the Pakistan Cricket Board. According to him, the board spent several years promoting a select group of players to serve as ambassadors for the national team and the national team. pakistan super leagueonly to find themselves in trouble when performance began to decline.“The level of your players is not up to the standards established by the Pakistan Cricket Board for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5 and 7 years ago. These boys aged 6-8 are also the face of the PSL. They are also the face of our Pakistan team. Will they change the destiny of Pakistan?” Ahmed Shehzad questioned in a video posted on his YouTube channel.He further accused the board of supporting this core group through endorsements, leadership roles and financial support but failing to ensure accountability.“You gave these boys all the sponsorship, endorsed them and invested in them. You made them captains in the PSL, right? You made them the thumbs up of the Pakistan team. You gave the entire Pakistan cricket team to these 6 boys and their agents. What have they done now? The fire they lit in the jungle, the joy and parties they had, they filled their pockets, they had fun and they did so without bringing any victory to Pakistan,” Shehzad said.His criticism reflects long-standing concerns about Pakistan cricket, with certain players repeatedly promoted to central figures without consistent results to justify such support. Shehzad believes the problem is not just performance, but a lack of responsibility among the players.“So bold that even today, they are ready to admit that we are responsible. None of these players. Even today, they are playing the blame game. Even today, their ego is not broken. The Pakistan Cricket Board is too weak now,” he added.He also questioned the authority of the board, suggesting it had lost control of the participants it authorized.“Whenever you talk about any player, they start making up stories. I have never seen Pakistan Cricket Board so weak in my life, as weak as this PCB. They have power, right? But in their decision-making, they seem to kneel in front of their players. This PCB can’t do anything. The job they are supposed to do – bring in new faces – they don’t. What they do is, after every game, they try to play new tricks but the public has now caught on to their pattern,” he said.For Shehzad, the issues extend far beyond a single series loss or tournament exit. He believes Pakistan cricket is addressing a larger systemic problem that prioritizes star development over renewal and accountability, trapping the team in a cycle that is difficult to break.
