Pakistan star's Ahmed Shehzad pick over Sachin, Sehwag sparks online storm

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan has unexpectedly found himself at the centre of online humour and heated discussion after a light-hearted “this-or-that” questionnaire took a surprising turn. Farhan’s decision to choose former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad over some of the biggest names in world cricket, including Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, left fans and former cricketers equally stunned.

Farhan later explained that his choice was rooted in inspiration rather than statistics or legacy. He revealed that Ahmed Shehzad was the player he closely followed in his early days and someone who motivated him to pursue cricket. “I started playing after watching Ahmed Shehzad. I was his fan,” Farhan said, offering context to his unusual preference.

Despite Shehzad’s international career featuring 13 Tests, 81 ODIs and 59 T20Is, with over 5,000 runs across formats, many felt the comparison with icons like Tendulkar and Sehwag was far-fetched. The comment quickly went viral, prompting animated reactions from former Pakistan players Basit Ali and Kamran Akmal.

Basit Ali, speaking on the YouTube show The Game Plan, flatly refused to believe the clip. With folded hands, he urged viewers to drop the topic, insisting the remark could not be serious. He even joked that he would personally question Farhan about his state of mind when the selection was made, while apologising on behalf of Pakistan cricket for the controversy.

Kamran Akmal, meanwhile, was left in splits before offering a tongue-in-cheek apology of his own, asking fans to forgive Farhan for what he termed an obvious error.

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Away from the noise, Farhan continues to make strides in his career. The 29-year-old has become a regular in Pakistan’s T20I plans, amassing 917 runs in 37 matches so far. Although he is yet to debut in Tests or ODIs, his recent back-to-back half-centuries against Sri Lanka played a key role in Pakistan’s 2-0 series victory.

Interestingly, Tendulkar and Sehwag were not the only legends overlooked in Farhan’s pick, with Rohit Sharma and former Pakistan great Saeed Anwar also falling behind Ahmed Shehzad - a choice that ensured the debate would linger far beyond a simple questionnaire.