WATCH: Ahmed Shehzad rips Pakistan's poor display against New Zealand

Ahmed Shehzad expressed his disappointment with Pakistan’s performance in the first T20I against New Zealand, criticising the experienced bowling lineup for failing to take wickets in Christchurch on Sunday.

Speaking in an interview, Shehzad questioned Pakistan’s bowlers for their lack of impact while defending a low total of 91.

"We were dismissed, but how many wickets did we take? Our senior, experienced bowling attack—what have they done? Where do you see them delivering any kind of threatening bowling, whether they are right-handed or left-handed?" he said.

The former opener also raised concerns over Shadab Khan’s selection, suggesting that the PCB had other motives for including him in the squad.

"You’re talking about Shadab—tell me, what performance has he delivered? Who brought him into the team? Let this series pass first. The PCB has a different plan with Shadab, and he was included in the team for a different purpose," Shehzad remarked.

When asked if Shadab could be Pakistan’s future T20I captain, he replied, "Yes."

Shehzad further criticised the state of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy (NCA), claiming it had failed to develop quality players in recent years.

"When we used to play, the NCA held big camps, and players were developed from there. That place is supposed to be a nursery for talent—not just a setup where you adjust your own people and secure salaries. Where are the players now? How many have emerged?" he questioned.

The 33-year-old cited his own batch of NCA-developed players, including Mohammad Amir, Imad Wasim, Umar Amin, and Shan Masood, as examples of the academy’s past success.

Shehzad also called out NCA Director Nadeem Khan, questioning his role in player development.

"Is there any responsibility or accountability? They are supposed to produce players for Pakistan. What has Nadeem Khan produced at the NCA? Why is no one questioning him? On what basis was he appointed there, and who put him in charge?" he said.

Pakistan’s struggles continued in the series opener as they were bowled out for 91, with Khushdil Shah top-scoring with 32 runs. Jacob Duffy led New Zealand’s bowling attack with four wickets, while Kyle Jamieson took three, Ish Sodhi claimed two, and Zakary Foulkes added one.

The Black Caps chased the target in 10.1 overs, securing a nine-wicket win with Tim Seifert scoring 44 off 29 balls. Finn Allen and Tim Robinson added crucial runs to help New Zealand take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.