Disappointed Ahmad Shahzad quits PSL over ‘deliberate effort’ to exclude him

Opening batter Ahmad Shahzad, disappointed by not being picked in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9 draft once again, announced on Friday that he was quitting the league.

“A heartfelt goodbye to Pakistan Super League!” said the 32-year-old cricketer who believes that it was a “deliberate effort” to exclude him from the tournament.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Shahzad made an upsetting post saying, “I’m writing this note which I thought I wouldn’t be writing this year. Another PSL draft goes by and same old story — didn’t get picked.”

“I have tried really hard by giving it all in domestic circuit consistently in last few years, and did reasonably well in the National T20 Cup just before the PSL draft.”

Shahzad has remained unpicked for four consecutive PSL seasons from 2021-2024.

“There seems a deliberate effort to keep me out, even when franchises have opted for other performers with inferior numbers than me. But when everything is pre-planned so it doesn’t really matter. I don’t know whose responsibility it is to get top domestic performers in the PSL then,” he wrote on X.

“But I exactly know the reasons why I’m not made part of the PSL — the whole country, and my fans will know it very soon,” wrote the opening batsman.

Shahzad played for Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans during the PSL in the past. His last appearance in PSL was for Quetta in 2020, when he only scored 61 runs in seven innings.

Overall, Shahzad scored 1,077 runs in 43 PSL innings at an average of 26.26 and strike rate of 120.06.

“I’m parting ways and saying goodbye to PSL for my own self-respect. I’ve never played for money and will never do it. While many chose international leagues across the globe, I decided to grind in the domestic circuit to prove my love for the game, and to wear the Green Flag again. I’m taking this decision keeping money out of it (was offered several contracts to play leagues yet chose Pakistan),” he continued to say.

“I will not play the PSL again with these six teams. It seems like a shared responsibility to keep me away from PSL, and all franchises have shaken hands.

“Lastly, I’m thankful to all the support I’ve received from my fans across the world. I can only assure one thing and that’s never giving in to unfair demands or accepting anything which lets my country down.”