00:00Okay we are coming to you live from Lahore and with me a man who needs no
00:05introduction if you watch international cricket you know who's standing next to
00:08me Ahmed Shehzad. Ahmed thank you so much for speaking to us. Firstly I must say
00:13you're looking dapper and very fit. I mean maybe the Pakistan team needs you
00:18all you need to do is just pick up your bag, your kit pack and head to the ground.
00:21Thank you. First of all welcome to my country. Thank you very much.
00:25Give me some time so that I can show you around Lahore so that you know what Lahore is like.
00:30Secondly, I have retired from this regime. I don't think I'll be able to play.
00:35I'm not even practising or anything. What I'm doing is making sure that I can stay within my capacity
00:42and be of help to Pakistan and this is what I'm doing.
00:47That's good but tell me is it one of the reasons like you are saying
00:52that you can't retire from this regime. Do you think this is one of the reasons
00:58Pakistan cricket is where it is because of the political interference or the way
01:02the PCB is being run? Political interference throughout has been there.
01:08There's no doubt about it and the team's situation right now, it's not because of
01:13these two years or a year. This has been happening for a while now.
01:18When you don't bring reforms, when you don't prevail over merit and when you don't
01:25control the indiscipline that's going on in the team, sooner or later these results
01:31are bound to come and we've been first when we were in the circle system.
01:36We've been watching it. When it comes to being vocal, people don't like it when you speak the truth.
01:42So slowly I saw that I was the one who was pushed aside from the system and those things
01:49were done that don't happen in a cricket team. So I took retirement from this regime
01:54when the water passed through my head and the results are in front of everyone.
01:58Like last year when we started talking and 60% of the people criticised that maybe he
02:05wants to come himself, maybe he's jealous of someone. No, my job is to raise a slogan
02:11that Pakistan is bigger than India. We love the soil. We're not a product that
02:15played two PSL matches and got into the team. No, we've given a life. We started from under 12
02:21and played under PCB. We came into the team following a structure and such players have
02:27a lot of value. They know your whole system. So I think this is what I've been doing and
02:31saying. When it didn't happen, I thought now that is it. What I can do is I can dump my
02:36cricket. Imagine if the Indian team comes in at 8th or 7th, what will be your reaction?
02:43The Indian team had just lost to New Zealand. Everyone from Australia loses.
02:48New Zealand came home and whitewashed you. I don't know how long it's been.
02:52You've seen the reaction, right? They're talking about kicking out King Kohli.
02:55Rohit Sharma, who's not a bigger player than him in the white ball, you're talking about
03:01kicking him out. So imagine this team has been hit rock bottom at 8th. And if players
03:08like me who have always kept the country above everything, it hurts. There's disappointment.
03:13There's no other reason. You need to do the right reforms, which were not happening.
03:18When you put things under the carpet, the results are like this. So now is the time.
03:24High time. Nothing has gone wrong. Things are getting better. You need to do the right reforms.
03:30The right person for the right people. You need to get good appointments.
03:34The right man for the right job. When you start doing all these things one by one,
03:39nothing is forever. Look at the Indian team. They didn't even get a pass from Pakistan.
03:44Do you remember that time?
03:4580s, 90s.
03:46If you look at the records, Pakistan is still up even after losing so much. Why is that?
03:50Because the Indian team is with Pakistan. But what did India do?
03:54No country does anything good. I believe you should learn from it.
03:58And India's example is in front of all of us. Out of such a large population, they developed
04:03a right infrastructure. They laid it. They laid the trap of Ranji Trophy.
04:07They prevailed over merit. They handed the cricket to the right people.
04:12They brought the right man for the right job professionals.
04:16After that, the boys who were supported by the team were righteous boys.
04:20They didn't do groupings in the team. They were potential and skilled players.
04:24Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma. If you look at Dhoni, he was a leader before.
04:29A leader does a lot of things. Look at MS Dhoni.
04:32The boys who MS Dhoni has supported are doing wonders for India.
04:38Jadeja, Raina, Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma.
04:42All of them are under Dhoni. And now what is he doing?
04:46What Dhoni has done to them, he is doing to others.
04:49So this is a fight that is going on. That's how you move on.
04:52But in Pakistan, the leaders like Babur Azam, who was in front of you,
04:57they speak for themselves. They are very sad to see them in this condition.
05:03When they started, it seemed that they would break all the records of Pakistan.
05:07But now all the records are in front of you.
05:10There are no such long failures. We were telling you.
05:13You did all this wrong. You made a performer a captain.
05:17After that, the captains had some friends.
05:21They kept taking friends. They didn't look at the merit.
05:25So sir, what happens is that when you oblige your friends,
05:28the domestic wheel stops. The performer doesn't get a chance.
05:33I wanted to ask you this. Very interesting point.
05:35Whether Pakistan does good or bad.
05:38We have been watching for a long time. The performances have come down.
05:41Yet, when we see from the outside, it is the same Naseem Shah,
05:44it will be the same Shaheen Shah, it will be the same Harish Rao.
05:47My point is, is there enough bench strength or not?
05:50This is the best possible available place. You would know best.
05:53This is what it is. Those who have never been in the domestic,
05:56those who don't know about the domestic, they sit and talk.
06:00There is no bench strength. Sir, first come to the domestic,
06:03then you will know. Then, the PR of these players,
06:07the friends who nudge their narrative,
06:11this system is run through them.
06:13There is no one behind, so we will play.
06:16Sir, because of this, there is no one behind,
06:18these players play for so long.
06:20Look, you get paid heavily. You are the ambassadors of the country.
06:24This is a performance-based place.
06:26The one who gives performance, he will stay.
06:28The one who doesn't give, eventually he has to go abroad.
06:31But in this lot, whether there is performance or not, he will play.
06:35And no one can win an event.
06:37You see, Babar Azam has played 8-9 events.
06:39Shaheen has played 7-8 events.
06:41Naseem has played 7 events.
06:42Harish Roph has played 5 events.
06:43Rizwan has played 7 events.
06:45If out of these, they haven't won anything for you,
06:49it means they have played their peak cricket.
06:51Now they have a decline.
06:52Now you cannot expect anything else.
06:54I think, if you ask me, they have played 2 events more.
06:58These things should have happened earlier.
07:00If there was some other developing country in our place,
07:03which was doing things based on merit,
07:05then maybe they wouldn't have got such a chance.
07:07But I think, it is still the right time.
07:09Nothing has gone wrong.
07:11It takes a little time.
07:12You bring the righteous people,
07:14who are loyal to your country.
07:16Who know the roots of your country well.
07:19They know where the problems are.
07:22And then you give them to the right people in the team.
07:26Good management, good leaders.
07:28Sooner or later, they become players.
07:30Have you ever seen,
07:31players from all over the world leave.
07:32Dhoni left.
07:33The team stopped.
07:34Sachin Tendulkar left.
07:35Yuvraj left.
07:36The team stopped.
07:37Sachin left.
07:38The team stopped.
07:39From here, Pakistan's legends left.
07:41The team doesn't stop.
07:42Players come.
07:43But your intention should be to move on.
07:46But I think, this time the performance was very bad.
07:49Pakistan will understand this time.
07:51Okay, I want to speak to you about a bigger picture.
07:54I am here in Pakistan as a journalist covering the tournament.
07:57The Indian team is not here.
07:59What would you like,
08:00if you had to send a message out to the Indian players,
08:02or the Indian team,
08:03about coming to Pakistan and playing cricket here?
08:05Look, we have said this before,
08:07that it is very unfair with the players.
08:09The players here,
08:10think about it,
08:11Kohli, essentially, is my favourite player.
08:13You must have heard about him.
08:14Because we see from which country he is from.
08:17He has a lot of brothers there.
08:18And we see that,
08:20because as a cricketer,
08:21we are fans of cricket.
08:22Whoever plays well,
08:24we love them.
08:25We openly praise them.
08:26Whenever they play,
08:27and their achievements,
08:28they shout it out loud.
08:30A little role model,
08:31professional,
08:32fitness level,
08:33sacrifice.
08:34So, sir,
08:35what advice would I give them?
08:36I would just advise them,
08:38that the way you are entertaining the whole world,
08:41keep doing it.
08:42By watching you,
08:43as long as you are playing,
08:44Rohit Sharma,
08:45Virat Kohli,
08:46Bhoomra,
08:47I feel like watching cricket.
08:49So, all these guys,
08:50who are sharing with you,
08:52Shubman Gill,
08:53Arshadeep,
08:54all these things,
08:55they will be very useful for the country.
08:57Keep playing,
08:58and all the best,
08:59because you guys are looking
09:00really, really dangerous
09:01in this ICC Champions Trophy.
09:02That was going to be my last question,
09:04before we wind up.
09:05Who are your favourites for this tournament?
09:07Of course,
09:08the Asian team,
09:09there is a tournament in Asia,
09:10and how can you out India?
09:12You see,
09:13they are playing all the matches in Dubai.
09:15Then they have very strong spin options.
09:18Then one thing was left,
09:19Virat Kohli,
09:20he also came to the form.
09:21He came to the form
09:22when he went to England,
09:24because he played his last innings.
09:26People will say,
09:27that he only did 50.
09:28No.
09:29The condition in which he did 50,
09:30that as a batter,
09:31challenges you.
09:32You have to be on the top of your technique
09:34to be able to perform there.
09:35It didn't happen that
09:36he went to that condition
09:37and hit a hit.
09:38Like other players,
09:39they get a little cushion,
09:40the ball is swinging,
09:41the seam is there.
09:42No.
09:43He also kept the projected score in control.
09:45He also spent that time.
09:46At the same time,
09:47he did his 60 there.
09:49From there,
09:50he came to the form.
09:51And when we had this clash,
09:53between Pakistan and India,
09:55we had said that
09:56he is in good touch
09:57and you will see in the Champions Trophy.
09:59But we also said
10:00not to go against Pakistan.
10:01My brother,
10:02as soon as he sees Pakistan,
10:03he stands alone
10:04and once again,
10:05he played a match-winning inning.
10:07He cruised the inning.
10:08Alright, Evan.
10:09Thank you so much
10:10for taking our time
10:11speaking to us.
10:12I'll tell you what,
10:13as an Indian,
10:14I want the Indian team to win,
10:15but I also want Pakistan
10:16to be in good shape
10:17because a good,
10:18healthy Pakistan team
10:19is great for international cricket.
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