Shehzad slams PCB for axing Sajid from SA Test squad

Ex-opener also voices annoyance over Shaheen Afridi's exclusion

Former Pakistan Test and ODI opener Ahmed Shehzad has raised concerns over the exclusion of off-spinner Sajid Khan from the Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa.

The selection committee announced the squads on December 4 for the tour, which will take place from December 10 to January 7. The tour will include three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests.Sajid Khan, who had an impressive performance against England earlier this year, taking 19 wickets in just two Test matches, was notably left out. Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who is recovering from an injury, was also not included in the Test squad.

Shehzad, visibly upset about the decision, expressed his frustration in a video on his YouTube channel. He questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for dropping Sajid, despite his strong performances.

"You have dropped Sajid Khan from the South Africa series; are you people blind or out of your minds?" Shehzad asked. "Do you think you're the only one going to play in South Africa, where the entire world doesn't play? And there, you're taking just Noman Ali," he added.

He went on to praise Sajid for his contributions to Pakistan cricket, particularly during a difficult period for the team.

"You should be thanking Sajid because in the slump Pakistan cricket has been stuck in for the last three and a half years - where it had hit rock bottom and people had started laughing at your cricket - he won matches for you," he added.

"And this is how you've rewarded him? Just as he was becoming a superstar, you discarded him like a fly from milk" he further added.

Shehzad also took aim at the decision to rest Shaheen Afridi for the Test series, calling it an attempt to "fool the public" under the guise of workload management.

"So, you've dropped Shaheen and brought in your own group. What did you achieve by dropping Shaheen? Managing workload, right? You're just fooling the public in the name of workload management," he said.