Javed Miandad slams Ahmed Shehzad's ‘can play for Pakistan for another 12 years’ comment

Quetta Gladiators opener Ahmed Shehzad recently said he can represent Pakistan for another 12 years but the statement that came in the wake of an ordinary performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 earned him a backlash. Former Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad reacted to the 28-year-old Shehzad to say that he can play for another 20 years but he has to perform as the preliminary condition.

He featured in seven games for the Gladiators but could score only 61 runs with the highest score of 12 made twice. On Sunday, Gladiators beat Karachi Kings by five wickets in their final match in Karachi but Shehzad fell for no score. The win also did not secure the Gladiators a place in the semi-finals as they lost out to Peshawar Zalmi in the net run-rate despite finishing with nine points from 10 matches.

Ahmed Shehzad made his 12-year comment while speaking to Cricket Pakistan in an exclusive interview. He said he has learnt a lot from his past experiences and is hopeful of representing his country for a long period of time. “The past two years have been tough for me but I have learnt a lot in that span of time and hopefully this will prove beneficial in my upcoming years in cricket,” the batsman who has played in 13 Tests, 81 ODIs and 59 T20Is said.

“Bearing in mind my fitness and skills, I think I can represent Pakistan for another 12 years and that is not an exaggeration,” he added. He has a minimum one century in all three formats of the game. Ahmed Shehzad last played for Pakistan in October 2019 in a T20I against Sri Lanka at home. Miandad, one of Pakistan’s finest batsmen in history, hit back at Shehzad in a YouTube video.

‘Need to perform first’

“You [Ahmed Shehzad] can play for 20 years rather than just 12, I guarantee you that but you need to perform. If you perform daily nobody will drop you from the side,” said the 62-year-old Miandad. “If other players are performing then they will be preferred over you with regards to playing for the national side.”

“Players should not give such irresponsible statements and instead let their performance do the talking on the field,” he added. Miandad, who was a member of Pakistan’s World Cup-winning team of 1992, also questioned Pakistan’s selection criteria. He said while players are judged every series in other countries, the Pakistani players get to play 10 matches based on one century.