Former Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has landed in controversy after making bold claims about alleged internal politics within the Indian cricket team. Shehzad, who has previously had a fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), suggested that team selection decisions in India were influenced by off-field issues and political mindsets.
Shehzad claimed that spinner Kuldeep Yadav was dropped from the playing XI after the match against Pakistan due to a reported disciplinary issue involving Suryakumar Yadav. He also alleged that head coach Gautam Gambhir had introduced politics into the team environment, harming India’s image.
🚨🚨MASSIVE STATEMENT BY AHMED SHEHZAD ON GAUTAM GAMBHIR AND INDIAN TEAM
— Oxygen (@Oxygen18_) February 24, 2026
Ahmed Shehzad🗣️: There is a lot of discussion in India right now about whether Gambhir will be removed from his position or if he will step down himself if in case India does not qualify for the semifinals.… pic.twitter.com/oG7gljpaTJ
“There was an incident after the Pakistan game where Suryakumar Yadav pushed him. People are now saying Kuldeep was dropped because of a disciplinary issue. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been left out. Kuldeep is a match-winner,” Shehzad said during a show.
He further added that Gambhir’s political stint had influenced his mindset and affected the team atmosphere, calling it damaging for Indian cricket.
Social Media Backlash
Shehzad’s remarks did not go down well with Indian fans, who trolled him heavily online and questioned his credibility. Many users accused him of trying to stay relevant by targeting Indian cricket, while others pointed out that similar politics allegations exist in Pakistan cricket.
Yusuf Pathan Backs India After South Africa Loss
Meanwhile, former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan expressed confidence in India’s ability to bounce back in the T20 World Cup 2026. India suffered a massive 76-run defeat against South Africa in their Super 8 opener, denting their semifinal hopes and pushing their net run rate to -3.800.
India now must win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies, and secure big-margin victories to improve their net run rate and keep semifinal qualification hopes alive.
“The Indian team knows how to bounce back. We hope India will win in Chennai by a good margin,” Pathan said.