"If a Bradman has come along that we somehow missed, please let us know"- Ahmed Shehzad slams PCB for Champions One-Day Cup 2024

Former Pakistani batter Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the lack of new talent emerging from the inaugural 2024 Champions One-Day Cup. The 50-over domestic competition was introduced to discover young talents as Pakistan cricket attempts to come out of their rut over the past year across formats.

Despite the tournament producing a few exciting games over two-and-a-half weeks, many of the already-known faces starred with minimal newish talents coming to the forefront.

Speaking on his YouTube channel as quoted by Cricket Pakistan, Shehzad had a go at the One-Day Cup, terming it a 'huge mistake'.

"Where is the talent that everyone was cheering for, saying that this tournament had brought out a lot of talent? We didn’t see anyone stand out. It’s just the same old 8-10 faces we always talk about, and they’re the only ones we’re seeing. If a Bradman has come along that we somehow missed, please let us know. It’s the same players going in circles, and those are your tools. You’re not going to get anything else," said Shehzad.

"You’ve only wasted money. Hosting this tournament [Champions Cup] was a huge mistake, but no one is going to admit it. No one will raise their hand. The people you’ve recruited through favoritism in domestic cricket won’t say anything. Everyone will pass the blame onto someone else. This is the tragedy of your cricket, and this is how the structure of your cricket is operating," he added.

While relatively renowned names like Usman Khan and Kamran Ghulam led the run-scoring charts, pacer Mohammad Hasnain was the leading wicket-taker.

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"I don't know what growth you are talking about" - Ahmed Shehzad on Mohammad Yousuf

Ahmed Shehzad further blasted departing senior selector Mohammad Yousuf by going after his message during the announcement on contributing to the growth and success of Pakistan cricket.

Yousuf's final assignment was the selection of the squad for the upcoming home Test series against England.

"Senior selector Mohammad Yousuf has resigned, and the reasons for his resignation are not clear. Despite the beautiful team he announced, which has been losing in a terrible manner, he announced the same team after being whitewashed by Bangladesh for the first time. He gave the country another gift by announcing this team, and afterwards, he calmly takes a step aside. He also beautifully stated in his tweet that he is very proud to contribute to the growth and success of the Pakistan team," Shehzad said in the same video.

"Brother, what growth are you talking about? This team lost to the USA for the first time; is that growth? After that, New Zealand's C-team came, and this team level the series against them? They played matches against England before the World Cup, scoring 85 runs in the powerplay; was that growth? They lost to the USA twice in one day for the first time; was that growth? After that, they failed to qualify for the Super 8 round of the T20 World Cup; was that growth?" he added.

Shehzad continued going after Yousuf and concluded by saying:

"Then, Bangladesh came, and you told the public that surgery would take place while shouting false slogans. You did nothing. Afterwards, you raised the banner of the Pakistan Cup, which also proved to be a deception. Then you lost to Bangladesh as well; is that growth? I don't know what growth you are talking about, and if you ask us and the people of Pakistan, you have left Pakistan cricket at a point where lifting it up will be impossible or very difficult."

Coming off a disastrous 0-2 home Test series loss to Bangladesh, Pakistan will now take on an in-form England side in a three-Test series at home, starting Monday, October 7.