Former Pakistan manager Intikhab Alam said opener Ahmed Shahzad was not offered a central contract by the PCB because of disciplinary issues and attitude problems. Alam, a former Test captain, said that despite being warned by the chairman of the Board, Ijaz Butt, Shahzad had issues of discipline and attitude problems which is why he was out of the team. “His performance was not an issue in not offering him a central contract. In the past also he was reported by managers for his attitude and discipline.
Ijaz Butt had spoken to him personally and advised him not to waste his immense talent and improve his behavior but there were no apparent changes in him,” Intikhab was quoted as saying by ESPN. Having scored two centuries in one-day series against New Zealand and in the West Indies and having been a regular member of the squad even in the 2011 World Cup, Shahzad, 22, was a surprise exclusion when the Board offered central contracts to 23 players on Monday. Media reports said he was dropped because he was blamed for causing misunderstandings between former captain Shahid Afridi and head coach Waqar Younis on recent tours.
“There is no doubt about his potential and if he improves his behavior he can make a comeback to the national team,” Intikhab said. He pointed out that while offering central contracts, the Board had to take into consideration not just performance and physical fitness but also a player’s attitude and approach towards team discipline. The former Test captain said PCB and team management had even sessions of therapy for troubled players. “We do our best even at the national academy to improve the behavior of problematic players but if they still continue to make the same mistakes, then it becomes difficult to have them in the national team set-up,” he added. Shahzad has had a background of disciplinary issues and in 2008 was also reported by manager, Abdul Raquib, for disruptive behavior during the ICC Youth World Cup in Kuala Lumpur. A source said the team management had also recommended special counseling for Shahzad, who it noted came from a ‘disturbed’ background. Interestingly, Shahzad, who is playing for his department Habib Bank in the ongoing Corporate Cup T20 Ramazan event in Karachi off the cuff, denied he was a trouble-maker in the team and insisted he gave and showed proper respect to his seniors and managers.
Shahzad has an attitude problem, says Intikhab
