Pakistani cricketer Ahmad Shehzad has been out of their national team for a long time now. He received a six-month ban from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in July last year after violating anti-doping regulations. His test came positive for a banned substance and was initially banned for five months but PCB added six more weeks as he participated in a friendly match despite the ban.
Shehzad apologized for it but the board was not in the mood to give him any reprieve and his ban stood till the end of December. However, now he has finished his ban and is looking good to make a comeback in the national side before the all-important ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales.
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In order to receive a comeback, Shehzad had an inspirational conversation with Indian legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who helped him in this hour of need and advised to do hard work without any regret.
The Gulf News quoted Shehzad as saying “I had a talk with Sachin and he was stressing that you should not regret. In his interviews also, he has said that one should do so much hard work that there shouldn’t be any regret. I have tried to do that. As a Muslim, you believe that things will happen as per the wishes of Allah but if your process is good and giving 110 percent then that’s what is important.”
The 27-year-old is currently playing in the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He believes that the time is on his side as he is eyeing an international return before the World Cup.
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He further added “I’m confident that I can come back into the Pakistan team. This one thing that one shouldn’t forget and I have learned that from a young age.”
While Shehzad continues to work on his discipline as well as his form to represent the Pakistani side again, plaudits must be given to Tendulkar for extending the moral support to the troubled opener. A true legend of the game, Sachin has always been an inspiration to younger cricketers irrespective of nationality and this time the veteran has proven to be no exception.
