Shehzad reveals backlash after reporting suspicious activities in leagues

Pakistan's opening batter Ahmed Shehzad candidly shared his experiences with suspicious activities in cricket, his dedication to his foundation, and the consequences of his decision to report these activities.

During an interview on a recent podcast, Shehzad opened up about his journey and the difficult choices he has had to make.

"I have become the most targeted since I started reporting suspicious activities. I can only say this much: I started with the PSL, and then it started increasing, even within the Pakistan team," said Shehzad.

When asked about his current priorities and focus, the 33-year-old shared his perspective with great clarity.

"People ask me, 'Why don’t you go and play some league?' The first thing is that I’m really busy with my foundation, from morning to evening—it’s not an easy thing. And I know what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. I will put all my energy into this foundation; this is my primary aim," he said.

The opening batter also shared his experience in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), shedding light on a situation that raised concerns regarding the integrity of some offers he had received.

"I used to have contracts; this time, I didn’t have one in the BPL. Last time, I went to play in the Bangladesh Premier League, played a match, scored some runs. After that, I got some offers, which seemed suspicious, so I reported them, as you're supposed to. And the next year, I was out of the tournament," he said.

The right-handed batter's difficulties with form persisted during his stint in Sri Lanka, and he openly discussed his challenges.

"The same thing happened in Sri Lanka. I didn’t play the first match, didn’t play the second match, but I played the third match. The pitch was difficult, I scored 60+ runs, then I was offered something, and I informed the PCB, including Colonel Usman, and it’s on record," he said.

He also reflected on the aftermath of his decision, acknowledging the direct consequences of his actions.

"I also informed the ICC, and then I got dropped from all the following matches. So, tell me, should I have done all those things? Did I make a mistake by reporting? What should I do now? It feels like what I did to stay right has now turned against me in life," he said.

He concluded by highlighting the challenges that arise when an individual decides to distance themselves from certain circles within the sport.

"When you find out a lot of things and you're not a part of it, and you don’t mingle with them, don’t entertain them, and don’t get involved with them, then you become dangerous to them," he said.

"They don’t want to see you with their players, and those whose team it is, they don’t want to see you either. Since I started reporting suspicious activities, I've noticed that one by one, platforms started approaching me in my life," he concluded.