Every child in house is not same:
Shahid Afridi slams franchises for ignoring Ahmed Shehzad, Umar Akmal
By Nawaz Gohar ; Former national captain Shahid Afridi has come out in vocal support of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal after they were overlooked in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 drafting, stating that team managements should occasionally provide opportunities to experienced players.
Afridi noted that while all eight franchises of the league included a mix of domestic and foreign cricketers in their squads during the player draft, Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal failed to become part of any team. He remarked that certain players are unnecessarily ignored despite being fit, actively playing, and continuing to work hard on their game.
He further stated that with the addition of new teams, he had hoped both batters would receive an opportunity. “It is the responsibility of the team management to carry every player along; just as every child in a household is not the same, every player in a team has a different role,” Afridi commented. He added that had he been part of a franchise management, he would have certainly selected both cricketers.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Shehzad became emotional during a television program while expressing his feelings about not being selected for the league. He stated that while it brings him joy to see his colleagues playing, he feels a sense of personal sorrow. He shared that his 9-year-old son’s wish to see him playing in the stadium is the most painful aspect for him.
The program, hosted by Tabish Hashmi and featuring cricketer Mohammad Amir as a guest, saw Shehzad mention that his son often consoles him, saying he remembers his father playing in the past, but now wishes to see him in action so he can remember him better in his prime.
