Ahmed Shehzad has criticised Quetta Gladiators for their treatment of senior players following the Pakistan Super League (PSL) auction, contrasting their approach with teams like Lahore Qalandars who showed greater loyalty to their core group.

 

Speaking on a television show with host Tabish Hashmi and fellow cricketer Mohammad Amir, Shehzad expressed disappointment over how Quetta handled their relationship with established performers.

 

"In Quetta, loyalty is something else. If we talk about loyalty, it doesn't even come close. I have performed for three or four seasons straight, but no phone call, nothing," Shehzad said. "On the other hand, Aamir performed well in the last two years. In fact, some big things happened with Aamir. No, he wasn't really a performer? One person could have at least called in the loyalty thing, like, 'Hey, you haven't been with us for two years.' But no."

 

Shehzad also pointed to the franchise's treatment of Saud Shakeel, who captained the team last season. "They didn't even want to pay him 50 lac. So when it comes to loyalty, it doesn't even come close to the Quetta Gladiators," he added.

Amir, who Rawalpindi picked for 5.7 crore after Quetta released him, took a lighter approach to the situation. When asked if he would miss his former team, he laughed and said, "Why would I miss Quetta? Life's all about moving forward."

 

The left-arm pacer welcomed the move to Rawalpindi, noting his connection to the city. "I'm happy playing for Pindi because my cricket started from the cricket club there," he said.

 

However, both players praised Lahore Qalandars for their approach during the auction. Despite new rules requiring teams to select one player from each category, Lahore retained Shaheen Afridi while releasing Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf. They then bought both players back in the auction, nearly exhausting their 45 crore purse in the process.

 

"Lahore Qalandars were packed with loyalty. They are number one [in loyalty]," Amir said.

 

Shehzad also acknowledged Karachi Kings, noting that team owner Salman Iqbal bid for Amir during the auction despite their previous association having ended. 

 

"Even if you look at Karachi Kings, no matter the terms they finished on, today Salman Bhai was bidding [for Mohammad Amir]. Lahore Qalandars said, 'who cares if the team sinks?' But they picked their players," he said.

 

The conversation also touched on the importance of senior players in team dynamics. When discussing whether captains should seek advice from experienced cricketers, Shehzad was emphatic. 

 

"Any captain who doesn't take advice from this must be crazy. Senior players aren't just sidelined. They're really important for the team, and that goes for the captain too. You need help sometimes. So when there are senior players, you ask them for help on the ground," he said.

 

The auction, held on Wednesday in Lahore, marked a significant moment for the league. PSL 11 will feature eight teams for the first time, with new franchises Hyderabad Houston Kingsman and Sialkot Stallionz joining the competition. Multan Sultans, sold for Rs 2.45 billion after previous owner Ali Tareen left the team, have been renamed Rawalpindi.

 

The tournament will run from March 26 to May 3, 2026.