Sialkot's Star All-Rounder Quits Pakistan Cricket Before PSL 11

24-year-old all-rounder from Sialkot, Shahzaib Bhatti, has reportedly decided to walk away from Pakistan cricket.

The young cricketer has been left disillusioned by a lack of opportunities and what he described as politics and corruption in the domestic setup.

Shahzaib Bhatti’s comments surfaced through a social media post in which he announced he was leaving the game at 24, claiming he had been sidelined for an extended period despite playing a role in a major domestic title win.

“Goodbye Pakistan cricket. At 24 years of age I am leaving Pakistan cricket,” he wrote. Referring to last season’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, he added that after winning the tournament on live television, he was “benched for almost 40 games in a row.”

Bhatti said his “only dream” was to represent Pakistan, but alleged that “politics, corruption” and a “lack of structure” had derailed his career, adding that he now understood why, in his view, many players end up leaving the system.

The Sialkot-born cricketer was part of Sialkot Region’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy-winning campaign in 2024–25, and played a key hand in the final against Peshawar Region, scoring an unbeaten 32 in a tense one-wicket victory.

His professional record remains limited so far. Shahzaib Bhatti has featured in two first-class matches and has taken five wickets in red-ball cricket, including a five-wicket haul where he conceded 236 runs against Lahore Whites in December 2024.

He made his List A debut in 2024 for Eshaal in the President’s Cup Grade 1, taking two wickets, and has also played one T20, where he picked up one wicket while conceding 47 runs in four overs against Rawalpindi.

There has been no official response yet from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding his claims.

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