[Watch] "Cricket ka mahaul kharab ho gaya hai" - Iftikhar Ahmed loses his cool at journalists after Champions One-Day Cup 2024 final
Pakistani batter Iftikhar Ahmed slammed the country's media for hyping players after a few good performances. He urged the media to stop hailing someone as the next big thing based on just one good knock.
Ahmed made these comments at the post-match presentation of the Champions One-Day Cup 2024 final between Markhors and Panthers in Faisalabad on Sunday, September 29. Blaming the media for ruining the atmosphere in Pakistan cricket, the 34-year-old said:
"I want to tell you media guys that please don't hype players after one good innings. Let them prove their worth in domestic cricket. Let them top in domestic cricket for two to three times and then speak about bringing them in the Pakistan team. You hype someone after one innings and then when he fails for Pakistan, you start questioning his selection and then you guys only talk about them. For God's sake let a player top in all three formats and then speak about him. You guys start saying that we have found the new Inzaman-ul-Haq and things like that."
"I am not against anyone. I am just telling you to show some respect to domestic cricket. Once a player performs well across the three formats in domestic cricket, you, me, everyone will speak about him. Aap log ki wajah se saara cricket ka mahaul kharab ho gaya hai (You guys have spoilt the atmosphere)."
Iftikhar Ahmed scored 193 runs across six innings at an average of 38.60 in the Champions One-Day Cup 2024.
Iftikhar Ahmed-led Markhors went down without a fight in the Champions One-Day Cup 2024 final
Iftikhar Ahmed captained Markhors in the Champions One-Day Cup 2024 final in regular skipper Mohammad Rizwan's absence. Markhors won the toss and chose to bat first against the Shadab Khan-led Panthers.
However, the decision backfired as they were bundled out for a paltry score of 122. Opener Fakhar Zaman was the lone warrior for his team with a 46-run knock. Mohammad Hasnain and Arafat Minhas picked up three wickets each for the Panthers, while Sajid Khan finished with two scalps.
The Panthers comfortably chased down the modest total in just 18 overs to complete a five-wicket victory. Abdul Bangalzai was the top performer for the team in the run chase, scoring 41 runs.