Photo via Hindustan Times

‘PCB does some things only for media’: Ex-Pakistan batter tears into country's cricket body over deeper problems

Former Pakistan opening batter Ahmed Shehzad has openly faulted the Pakistan Cricket Board for relying on superficial fixes rather than tackling persistent foundational flaws within the domestic system. Although key national players such as Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have rejoined first-class competitions following difficulties at the top level, Shehzad cautioned that their participation will achieve little without substantial structural overhauls.

In comments delivered to Geo News, he argued that initiatives are frequently staged merely to appease the press while fitness standards, talent development, and coaching remain neglected.

Shehzad specifically pointed out that domestic pitches are routinely stripped of their pace and lateral movement, denying frontline batters the opportunity to address technical weaknesses on bowling-friendly surfaces before stepping onto the international stage. He stressed that preparing flat tracks removes the essential challenge needed for growth and asserted that modern domestic coaching has declined to the extent that previous club-level competitors displayed greater determination and skill.