"This team is plagued with grouping and crackdown is the only option" - Ahmed Shehzad wants Pakistan players punished after Kirsten's comments
Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has been one of the most vocal critics of the Babar Azam-led side in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Men in Green suffered defeats to India and co-hosts USA to exit the competition in the group stage itself.
Shehzad has criticized Babar in particular along with the Pakistan management for the team's dismal performances. From a dressing room atmosphere point of view, the team is already in a fragile state, and head coach Gary Kirsten's alleged comments about factions and lack of teamwork have only flared up the fans and pundits.
There were rumors of a rift between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi after the latter was sacked from T20I captaincy after just one bilateral series and the former was reinstated. If reports are to be believed, Mohammad Rizwan is also not in terms with PCB because he was not considered for captaincy.
"If Gary Kirsten's team talk is true, it's not shocking at all. We have been saying this throughout the World Cup. It's time for accountability, this team is plagued with grouping and crackdown is the only option. The players involved must be punished and an example should be set for next generation of cricketers. PCB chairman must take notice," Ahmed Shehzad wrote in a tweet.
Pakistani have always been accused of putting themselves over their team. Former cricketers like Shoaib Akhtar and Inzamam-ul-Haq have mentioned constantly that players should not go for individual records and should play for the team's best interest.
"I cannot play for every player" - Babar Azam after Pakistan's 2024 T20 World Cup campaign came to an end
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam's comments after the team's T20 World Cup exit were far from encouraging, and did not suggest that the entire dressing room is aligned.
"We didn't play as a team. This is not because of an individual as we lost as a team. It's not just the captain. I cannot play for every player as there are 11 players. They are in the World Cup because each player has an assigned role. The execution wasn't there and we have to sit down and work out what needs to be done. I accept that we didn't play as a team," Babar said in a post-match press conference after the win over Ireland in Florida.
The PCB has a lot to dissect and some radical decisions regarding personnel and approach may also be in the offing. Babar Azam has left his captaincy future in the hands of the PCB, but there is no clarity as to how the issue of grouping within the team will be solved.