Nuisance factor does in Shahzad

Ahmed Shahzad has been dropped from the 16-member Pakistan squad for the tour of Zimbabwe because of creating problems within the team.

According to a report in the 'Jang' newspaper, Shahzad, who had scored a century in the one-day series in the West Indies recently, was dropped from the tour of Zimbabwe tour in September because of his habit of backbiting and indulging in intrigues.

The report said Shahzad was dropped after team manager Intikhab Alam and coach Waqar Younis had reported to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that he was creating misunderstandings in the team.

The report said that Shahzad has been held responsible for creating misunderstandings between Waqar and former captain Shahid Afridi, who retired in protest after the West Indies tour, following his sacking as captain on disciplinary grounds.

Both Waqar and Alam had described Afridi as an immature and emotional captain in their tour reports.

But now it has emerged that both the former Test captains have told PCB that Shahzad was responsible for creating misunderstandings and intrigues in the team.

Shahzad, a talented opener from Lahore who also did well in the recent super eights T20 tournament, was a surprise exclusion from the touring squad to Zimbabwe.

The PCB has claimed time and again that it will not tolerate player power in the team at any cost and any cricketer found guilty of such acts will be dropped immediately.

The dispute between Waqar and Afridi blew up during the ODI series in the West Indies and led to a major crisis in Pakistan cricket when Afridi retired in protest.