Ahmed Shehzad doesn’t like comparison to Kohli

Pakistan opener says it adds pressure to replicate Indian’s success

Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad has dismissed the tag of being indisciplined and having attitude problems, insisting that his ambition was to play 100 Test matches for the nation.

The 23-year old also made it clear that he didn’t like being compared to India’s Virat Kohli nor was he keen to replicate his achievements.

On the constant comparison with Kohli, Shehzad made it clear he didn't like that. “There is no comparison, he plays for India I play for Pakistan. He has his own ambitions, I have mine. And I am sure when I have played the number of ODIs and Tests that he has played I would have also achieved a lot. But right now I have played just 70 he has played double that figure so comparisons should not be made by the media.”

“My motto is to enjoy cricket and I like playing cricket with a sense of freedom and joy. I like to dress well, eat well and am bit of a showman and if you don’t have attitude you can’t be a more than average professional sportsman,” Shehzad said.

“But to say that I am indisciplined or have attitude problems is not correct. I have my own style and I like to enjoy life but that does not mean I am not a team man, good professional athlete or I don’t respect my teammates. Many impressions about me are misplaced,” he said.

Reminded that head coach Waqar Younis and captain Misbah-ul-Haq had recommended dropping him from the national team after the World Cup because of discipline issues, Shehzad questioned whether anyone including the media had really gone through the report. “There are lot of conjunctions about the report and some misunderstanding. Obviously they are differences and issues in a team who are like a family.”