Another lost star as Shahzaib Bhatti announces exit from Pakistan Cricket, cites ‘politics and corruption’
- Laiba Abbasi
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
A young Pakistani cricketer, Shahzaib Bhatti, has announced that he is leaving Pakistan cricket at the age of 24, expressing frustration over what he described as politics, corruption, and lack of structure within the system.
In a post shared on the social media platform X, Bhatti wrote an emotional message stating that he was stepping away from Pakistan cricket despite achieving success in domestic competitions.
“Goodbye Pakistan cricket. At 24 years of age I am leaving Pakistan cricket,” Bhatti wrote. “I won the Quaid-e-Azam final last year on live television. Since then I’ve been benched for almost 40 games in a row.”
The cricketer was referring to Pakistan’s premier first-class domestic competition, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, where he claims to have played a key role in a title-winning performance.
Bhatti said that representing Pakistan had always been his dream, but he believes systemic issues within the country’s cricket structure damaged his career prospects.
“My only dream is to represent Pakistan. But politics, corruption, and lack of structure have ruined my career — and many others,” he wrote in the statement.
He further added that the situation made him understand why several players eventually decide to walk away from the system.
The emotional announcement has sparked debate among fans and analysts on social media, with many questioning the management of domestic talent and the pathways leading to the national team under the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Some supporters sympathized with Bhatti, saying the domestic structure often sidelines talented players, while others urged the PCB to investigate such claims and provide clearer opportunities for emerging cricketers.
As of now, the Pakistan Cricket Board has not issued an official response to Bhatti’s statement.
Bhatti concluded his message with a brief but emotional farewell: “I now know why everyone is leaving Pakistan cricket. Goodbye.”
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