ICC T20 World Cup 2016: Ahmed Shehzad blames media for spreading irresponsible rumours about groupism

After his team’s elimination from the 2016 ICC World T20, Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad has rubbished all rumours of groupism withing the squad, stating that the team as a whole looked to win and that all the members were collectively responsible for their exit from the competition.

The 23-year-old also revealed that he could not eat properly after the Men In Green bowed out of the competition on Friday and added that it was the media, who were accountable for spreading such rumours about there being groupism within the team.

“Believe me since we lost the match I couldn’t eat properly. The tournament is not over for us but unfortunately the media and some people are spreading irresponsible rumors about groupism in the team. As a human being you can give your best and try but not always are you successful,” Shehzad told the ‘Jang’ newspaper.

“If we lost we are all responsible and if we win it will be a collective credit for us,” he added.

Calling his skipper Shahid Afridi his ‘brother’, Shehzad said that he could never think of doing anything wrong against his own country.

“Afridi is like my elder brother and I cannot even imagine betraying my country which is our mother. I cannot think of doing anything wrong,” he said.

Prior to Pakistan’s crucial Group 2 encounter against Australia in Mohali on Friday, former captain Shoaib Malik had also squashed also rumours of groupism within the squad, stating that the they were baseless speculations before quickly adding that there were at least 6 members from the 2009 World T20 squad who weren't on talking terms with one another.

“To me, all this speculation is baseless. Just to add to that, I want to say that six of us were not talking during the World T20 in 2009 but we still managed to win the title,” he said.

After the defeat on Friday, head coach Waqar Younis also dismissed talks of there being a rift within the squad.

“The talks about there is a rift in the team is not true. I think we just didn't play good enough cricket,” the head coach said.