Tag: Ahmed Shehzad

COLOMBO: Pakistan opening batter Sahibzada Farhan joined former batter Ahmed Shehzad in an elusive list with a century against Namibia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Wednesday.

Farhan’s 100* off 58 balls with the aid of four sixes and 11 fours played a vital role in propelling Pakistan to a big total of 200.

After scoring a ton, the right-hander became only the second Pakistani batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a century in the T20 World Cup.

Previously, Shehzad had scored a century against Bangladesh in the 2014 World Cup.

The century also took Farhan to the top of the runs chart in the tournament, accumulating 220 runs in four matches at an average of 73.33.

Overall, he is the fifth Pakistani batter to score a hundred in T20Is, joining the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Haris, Ahmed Shehzad, and Hasan Nawaz.

Moreover, he also became the 13th batter to make a ton in the mega event, joining the likes of Chris Gayle and other notable players.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan made a brisk start as Farhan and Saim Ayub stitched together a quickfire 40-run opening stand in just over five overs.

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The partnership ended when Jack Brassell dismissed Ayub for 14 off 12 balls, an innings that included two boundaries.

Skipper Salman Ali Agha then joined Farhan at the crease, and the pair built a steady 67-run partnership for the second wicket, guiding Pakistan past the 100-run mark and laying the foundation for a big total.

Youngster Khawaja Nafay was promoted to number four but could only manage five runs before falling to Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus.

Farhan, however, continued to dominate. Joined by Shadab Khan, the duo added an unbeaten 81-run stand for the fourth wicket to propel Pakistan to an imposing total.

Shadab, after a cautious start, accelerated to finish on 36 off 22 balls, striking one four and three sixes.

READ: South Africa cruise past UAE to seal perfect group-stage run

CHENNAI: Canada’s rising star Yuvraj Samra has broken a record previously held by Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against New Zealand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old batter produced a remarkable innings of 110 off 65 balls, striking 11 fours and six sixes in a fearless display against a quality New Zealand bowling attack.

With this knock, Samra etched his name into the record books, becoming the youngest player ever to score a century in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

At 19 years and 141 days, Samra broke the long-standing record held by Ahmed Shehzad, who was 22 years and 127 days old when he scored his century against Bangladesh in the 2014 edition.

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The Canadian prodigy also became the first player from an Associate nation to register a hundred in the history of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

His milestone knock made him only the second batter to score a century in the 2026 tournament, following Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka.

Youngest centurions in Men’s T20 World Cup

19y 141d – Yuvraj Samra (Canada) vs New Zealand, Chennai, 2026

22y 127d – Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2014

23y 156d – Suresh Raina (India) vs South Africa, 2010

25y 83d – Alex Hales (England) vs Sri Lanka, 2014

25y 327d – Glenn Phillips (New Zealand) vs Sri Lanka, 2022

Samra’s brilliant century powered Canada to a competitive total of 173-4 against a formidable bowling lineup featuring Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson. Despite his heroics, the effort ultimately went in vain.

New Zealand chased down the target comfortably in 15.1 overs, courtesy of unbeaten half-centuries from Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, sealing victory and overshadowing Samra’s historic night.

READ: Colombo weather update ahead of Pakistan-Namibia clash

LAHORE: Former Pakistan opening batter Ahmed Shehzad broke down in tears during a live television show while speaking about not being selected in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Speaking on a private TV channel, Shehzad admitted that he became emotional after watching his former teammates take the field while he remained unpicked.

“I feel very sad. I still want to play,” he said.

The cricketer added that he often goes through self-reflection and accountability, questioning the reasons behind his exclusion. “After every auction, the days are particularly difficult for me,” he shared.

Shehzad said that, having spent 18 years in cricket, watching the PSL unfold without being part of it is painful.

“PSL started in front of my eyes. I have given 18 years to cricket, and suddenly everything feels gone. It hurts a lot. I miss it, and sometimes I cry,” he said.

He also expressed disappointment that no board official has approached him for clarification.

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“Why doesn’t someone come and talk to me and ask what happened? Let’s sort it out,” he said.

Shehzad revealed that there appears to be confusion among some franchise officials regarding his status.

“New teams are being added to the PSL. One team even thought I was banned or had retired from cricket. There is no clarity about me,” he explained.

Becoming visibly emotional during the show, Shehzad said the most painful part this time was his nine-year-old son’s wish to see him play.

“This time, what hurts most is that my nine-year-old son wanted me to play,” Shehzad said, as his eyes filled with tears.

The host embraced him to offer comfort, while fellow guest Mohammad Amir also consoled him.

“My son sleeps next to me and says, ‘Baba, I remember you used to play. But now I will remember you better.’ That is what makes me emotional,” he added.

For those unaware, Ahmed last played PSL in 2021 for Quetta Gladiators and endured a horror run, managing only 61 runs in seven matches at an average of 8.71

READ: PSL 11: Complete squad lists after Player Auction

Pakistan Test cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has urged opening batter Saim Ayub to ‘learn the art of batting’ following his horror run with the bat in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025.

Saim Ayub had endured a poor run with the bat in the continental tournament. The southpaw bagged overall four ducks, including three in a row, and could only manage to score 37 runs in just seven innings.

On the contrary, he had an impressive outing with the ball as he picked up eight wickets in six innings at an economy of 6.40 per over. Following his bowling contributions, he became the No.1 all-rounder in ICC T20I rankings.

Appearing in a recent podcast, Ahmed Shehzad reflected on his past comments about the left-hander, recalling that once he warned Saim could prove dangerous for Pakistan.

“Yes is proving to be dangerous,” he said in a light-hearted manner given his current struggles.

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Ahmed Shehzad nevertheless praised the left-hander’s talent and called him a ‘blessing’ for Pakistan. He also mentioned Saim’s time with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators.

“It’s turning out to be a blessing in disguise for us that we have this kind of talent.” “He was with us at Quetta Gladiators, where he hardly got any chances. He worked hard and started playing with more flair. Then he had one good season,” he continued.

The 33-year-old pointed out systematic flaws and the scarcity of batting talent in the country, alongside mentioning his performance and the number of matches he had played.

“In a country where there aren’t many players, when you find someone like this, you have to support him.

He has already been given 50 chances — that’s the length of some players’ entire careers. He has been handed 50 chances despite failures,” he added.

Shehzad also emphasized his bowling and suggested that he needs to play domestic cricket to regain his form rather than being discarded altogether.

“His bowling can be useful against sides like Oman or UAE, but against stronger teams, it hasn’t worked. India, for example, took him apart.”

“Saim has to learn the art of scoring runs. He should go back to domestic cricket, play ‘A’ tours. There is no need to discard him completely,” he concluded.

READ: South Africa’s Van Heerden becomes first injury replacement under new trial

Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has slammed the comparison of Babar Azam, stating that Virat Kohli cannot be compared to anyone in the world.

Speaking during a recent interview, Shehzad commented on the form of Babar Azam and drawing parallels with great cricketers.

“When everything was going well, you were running campaigns comparing players. Now that the performances are not coming, you are saying ‘don’t compare two players.’ Why not? Virat Kohli’s comparison cannot be made with anyone in the world,” Shehzad said.

Shehzad hailed Virat Kohli as a generational player, stating that the comparison added extra pressure on Babar.

“He is a legend of this generation, a role model. You cannot even compare him with MS Dhoni,” Shehzad said.

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“Dhoni may have been a great captain, but as a batter, cricketer, and athlete, Kohli stands alone. No one should be compared with anyone because it’s unfair and it adds extra pressure, which we are now seeing on Babar Azam,” he added.

Notably, Babar has experienced a significant decline in form over the last couple of years.

The right-handed batter known for his consistent scoring returned with the scores 47, 0, and 9 in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against West Indies.

As a result, Babar Azam has not managed to score a hundred in 72 consecutive innings, with his last ton coming against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup.

For the unversed, West Indies clinched the ODI series against Pakistan 2-1 for the first time since 1991. Shai Hope starred with bat whereas Jayden Seales teared through Pakistan batting line-up with a fiery six-wicket haul

READ: Rohit Sharma replaces Babar Azam in ICC ODI rankings

Pakistan Test cricketer Ahmed Shehzad highly praised returning opener Sahibzada Farhan for his blistering 74-run knock in the second T20I against Bangladesh.

The right-hander made his T20I debut back in 2018 but featured in only two more matches that year before being sidelined.

His next chance came over five years later, during the Australia tour in January 2024 under Shaheen Shah Afridi’s captaincy.

But Sahibzada Farhan couldn’t leave a mark in that series — scores of 1 and 19 in two games saw him dropped yet again. He returned to the side during the tours of Australia later that year, but failed to leave a lasting impression.

However, he kept piling on runs in domestic cricket and finished as the top-scorer in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10.

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On Friday, Farhan finally got another opportunity, replacing the unfit Fakhar Zaman, and made it count in style.

Opening the innings, he smashed 74 off just 41 balls, hitting ten boundaries, including six sixes, to set the tone for Pakistan’s commanding total of 201-6 at Gaddafi Stadium.

It was his first T20I in six months and his maiden fifty in Pakistan colours, a knock that not only helped his side seal the series but also reignited hopes of a long-term future in the green shirt.

Following the match, Ahmed Shehzad took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to heap praise on the 29-year-old batter.

“So happy to [see] Sahibzada Farhan getting the opportunity for Pakistan [and] he making it count,” Shehzad posted. “Fantastic start for him. What an inning. What a player. Sky is the limit.”

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Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has criticized Shadab Khan for his underwhelming performance in the first T20I against New Zealand, questioning the merit behind his selection in the squad.

Shadab, who made his comeback in the series as the vice-captain, had a forgettable outing in the series opener, scoring just 3 runs and failing to pick up a wicket in his two-over spell.

Speaking on a private TV channel, Ahmed Shehzad didn’t hold back in his assessment, demanding clarity on what warranted Shadab’s place in the squad.

“You’re talking about Shadab [Khan], but tell me, what performance has he put up? Who brought him onto the team? Let this series pass; the PCB has a different plan, and Shadab has been included in the team for a specific purpose,” Shehzad remarked.

Pakistan’s young squad suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the series opener at Hagley Oval on Sunday.

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After being put in to bat first, Pakistan endured a nightmare start as openers Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz were dismissed for ducks. The collapse continued with Irfan Khan managing just a single run before his departure, leaving Pakistan reeling at 1/3 in 2.2 overs.

Khushdil Shah (32 off 34) and captain Salman Ali Agha (18 off 22) were the only batters to show some resistance, but their efforts were far from enough. Pakistan were bowled out for just 91 runs in 18.4 overs, marking their fifth-lowest total in T20Is.

New Zealand made light work of the chase, hunting down the target in just 12.1 overs, with 59 balls to spare—making this Pakistan’s worst defeat in terms of balls remaining in T20I history.

Their previous worst was against Australia in 2018, where they suffered a nine-wicket loss with 55 balls to spare.

READ: Imad Wasim questions Babar Azam’s promotion to ODI opening slot

Pakistan top-order batter Ahmed Shehzad has questioned the decision to play all-rounder Faheem Ashraf instead of fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain in the tri-nation ODI series final against New Zealand.

The Kiwi side outclassed Pakistan in the tri-nation series final as they chased the 243-run target at the loss of five wickets with 28 balls to spare at the newly renovated National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.

After the loss, Ahmed Shehzad took to his official YouTube channel and criticised Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision to bat first.

“Pakistan’s bubble has burst ahead of the Champions Trophy,” said Shehzad.

“It was a mind-boggling decision [to bat first] because we had seen in the previous match that the pitch becomes better for batting at night.

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“The ball doesn’t grip the surface for spinners. Still, the Pakistan team decided to bat first. Brainless decision—no clue.”

The 33-year-old also slammed the team selection, criticising the ‘safe’ approach to strengthen batting at the expense of a specialist pacer.

“Pakistan captain wants to play safe with batting—whether it’s being a spinner short in the Champions Trophy squad or, in this match,” he stated.

“Playing [bowling all-rounder] Faheem Ashraf to strengthen the batting lineup at the expense of [fast bowler] Mohammad Hasnain, yet still using Ashraf for just two overs.

“In a final, you are making childish decisions… making so many mistakes in matches. You get a chance to win only when the opposition performs below par or doesn’t have their main players available.”

READ: Former cricketer urges Babar Azam to return at No. 3 in Champions Trophy

Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has questioned the national selectors over the squad chosen for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, raising concerns about the lack of consistency and planning in team selection.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming tri-nation ODI series, involving New Zealand and South Africa, as well as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Friday.

Following the announcement, Ahmed Shehzad took to his official X (formerly Twitter) and raised concerns over a few decisions, particularly the inclusion of one specialist spinner in the line-up.

“Only one genuine spinner in Champions Trophy squad and you are playing in Pakistan and UAE are you serious?” he wrote.

Shehzad also expressed his surprise at the uncertainty surrounding the opening combination of Pakistan.

“2 new openers will be playing directly in Champions Trophy; Fakhar making a comeback and we still don’t know who will open with him,” he added.

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He further raised concerns over the inclusion of Usman Khan and Faheem Ashraf, both of whom earned recalls, despite having little to no recent 50-over experience.

“Faheem & Usman make there way back in the team from T20 tournament happening in Bangladesh without playing any ODI cricket in recent past for the country. Are you guys for real?” he stated.

Another selection call that left Shehzad baffled was the inclusion of Saud Shakeel, questioning where he would even fit in the playing XI.

“And where are you willing to adjust Saud Shakeel? Another one came directly into the champions trophy squad,” he remarked.

Despite his strong criticism, Ahmed Shehzad ended his remarks on a positive note, expressing his unwavering support for the national team.

“All the best Team Pakistan. Besides all the blunders our prayers still will be with you,” he concluded.

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Pakistan top-order batter Ahmed Shehzad has suggested an unconventional solution to restore cricketing ties between his home country and arch-rival India amid the ongoing political standoff.

Shehzad, known for his bold and blunt remarks, suggested building a stadium at the border between Pakistan and India, allowing players to participate without officially crossing into each other’s territories.

“I suggested the idea of building a stadium by the border. One gate would be towards India, the other gate would be towards Pakistan. The players would come from the respective gates and play,” he suggested during a podcast.

However, he didn’t shy away from taking a sarcastic jab at the hurdles such an arrangement might face, especially from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government.

“But even then there would be issues for the BCCI and their government. When their players come to the field by our side, they would need visas which they would not get,” Ahmed Shehzad remarked.

The unique proposal emerged in the wake of a recent standoff between the two countries, sparked by India’s decision to decline a visit to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

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Initially, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was resolute in its intention to host the entire tournament on Pakistani soil.

However they later announced a reciprocal stance: if India chose not to travel to Pakistan, then Pakistan would not send its team for any events organized in India.

Consequently, the ICC confirmed on December 19 that the Champions Trophy 2025 will be played with a hybrid model, which will see India playing their matches at a neutral venue.

The hybrid model has been approved for the ICC event cycle from 2024 to 2027, meaning both countries will play their matches at a neutral venue in events hosted by either nation.

It is worth noting that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

In contrast, Pakistan has made four trips to India in the last 16 years. Their most recent visit was last year for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.

READ: Champions Trophy: Javed Miandad opens up on ICC’s ‘hybrid model’ decision