He's not a bad boy, Gayle says of sacked Shehzad

Published April 4, 2015
Chris Gayle and Ahmed Shehzad played for Jamaica Tallawahs in the Carribean Premier League. — Photo courtesy BPLT20
Chris Gayle and Ahmed Shehzad played for Jamaica Tallawahs in the Carribean Premier League. — Photo courtesy BPLT20

Flamboyant West Indian batsman Chris Gayle has thrown his weight behind sacked Pakistan opener and Jamacia Tallawahs teammate Ahmed Shehzad, adding that the 23-year-old was too good of a talent to be wasted.

The 35-year-old Gayle, who played alongside Shehzad for Jamaica in the first edition of the Caribbean Premier League, is an active presence on social media and took to Twitter to nudge the Pakistan selectors.

“Heard u been drop @iamAhmadshahzad ...I know you're not a bad boy to be drop for discipline... Come on Pakistan, don't waste this talent,” the explosive Gayle, who fell out with the West Indian board earlier this year, tweeted on Saturday.

Pakistan announced the squads for the national side's Bangladesh tour on Friday, but there was no place for Shehzad in the Test and ODI sides while under-performing batsman Umar Akmal was dropped for all formats.

The new selection committee, headed by former batsman Haroon Rasheed, warned the squads that discipline would be closely watched.

“We have told the players that Pakistan comes first,” said Rasheed.

“There will be no compromise on discipline and that's why we have dropped Umar from all formats and Ahmed Shehzad from two.”

Head coach Waqar Younis had complained about Shehzad and Umar's lack of discipline during Pakistan's World Cup campaign, which ended in a quarter-final defeat to hosts and eventual champions Australia.

Umar managed just 164 runs in seven matches while Shehzad scored 222 in as many games.

Pakistan's tour to Bangladesh is yet to be announced officially and has been delayed due to public holidays in Bangladesh. Pakistan are likely to arrive in Dhaka on April 13 to start the three-ODI series from April 17 in Mirpur.

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