Ignored in PSL, snubbed from T20I squad, Ahmed Shehzad becomes fifth Pakistan batter to score 7,000 T20 runs

Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad who played his last T20I in 2019 crossed the 7,000-run mark in the format on February 17 during a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 match. Shehzad became the fifth Pakistan batter after Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and Mohammad Rizwan to achieve the feat.
 

Shehzad needed seven more runs to achieve the feat before the match. Playing for Tamim Iqbal-led Fortune Barishal, he scored 17 runs from 11 balls including three boundaries against Sylhet Strikers at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram. He lost his wicket to Tanzim Hasan Sakib in the third over of the innings. Now, he has 7,010 runs from 254 innings at an average of 29.25 including five centuries and 45 half-centuries.
 

Mayers’ all-round show guides Fortune Barishal to 18-run win

Kyle Mayers' 31-ball 48 and wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim's half-century helped Fortune Barishal post 183/6 on the board. In reply, Sylhet Strikers lost two batters for ducks in the first over itself. Mayers got rid of them and then Zakir Hasan got run out. After getting reduced to 40/6 in the 10th over, Benny Howell and Ariful Haque's half-centuries could not revive the run chase. Sylhet Strikers posted 165/8 and lost the match by 18 runs.
 

Shehzad’s stocks dip

Shehzad arrived in Bangladesh and registered scores of 39 and 66 in his first two appearances. In the next five matches, he struggled to score. The 32-year-old has scored 172 runs from seven innings at an average of 24.57. 
 

Coincidentally, Shehzad crossed the 7,000-run mark on the same day as the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 opener between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United. The veteran batter was not picked by any PSL franchise, a snub that surprised many. 
 

Shehzad has been missing from the national side for a long time as well. Despite performances in domestic cricket, he could not make a comeback. His last T20I appearance was in 2019 against Sri Lanka in Lahore where he managed to score 13 runs from 16 balls.
 

The Lahore-born batter has scored 1,471 runs from 59 innings at an average of 25.80 including one century and seven half-centuries.
 

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