Former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad has taken aim at the way parts of the Pakistan media frame conversations with overseas stars in the PSL, arguing that they are repeatedly pushed to draw comparisons with the IPL—even while those players are actively playing in Pakistan’s league.
Key takeaways
- Ahmed Shehzad said PSL players are often asked to compare the league to the IPL, despite currently competing in PSL.
- He cited questions directed at Kusal Mendis about leaving PSL previously to join the IPL.
- Shehzad also referenced Rilee Rossouw’s earlier remarks that the IPL resembles a “movie” more than cricket.
- Shehzad argued that an IPL-style endorsement is unrealistic to expect from players while they are in the PSL environment.
- Kusal Mendis is set to represent Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2026.
Shehzad questions the “IPL vs PSL” angle
Shehzad criticised Pakistan journalists and sections of the media for consistently steering interviews toward the IPL and PSL comparison, particularly by putting current PSL participants on the spot with IPL-focused prompts.
In his comments, he pointed specifically to Kusal Mendis, who is currently taking part in the PSL. Shehzad said Mendis has been asked leading questions that essentially revisit his earlier decision to move to the IPL, even though he is competing in PSL at the time of the interview.
Shehzad explained the line of questioning by highlighting how reporters have asked Mendis what he thinks about the IPL after “last time you left and went to IPL,” framing it as a direct comparison rather than focusing on his current PSL role and performance.
Kusal Mendis and the reporter’s “regrets” question
Shehzad noted that Mendis has also been questioned about his earlier switch from PSL to the IPL. Mendis, who is representing Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2026, had previously been asked about the decision to withdraw from PSL and join the IPL.
One reporter asked Mendis whether he had any “regrets” about joining Gujarat Titans during the season, while Mendis was also associated with Quetta Gladiators. The interviewer suggested that Pakistan’s PSL had shown him “respect” again after his mid-tournament withdrawal, but that the Gujarat Titans had not picked him again, and then asked him to respond to the implied follow-up.
As per the question put to Mendis, the reporter referenced that last year he withdrew from the Pakistan Super League to play for Gujarat Titans midway through the tournament. The reporter also mentioned “security concerns” and then asked whether there was any regret about leaving PSL the previous year, before noting that his return to PSL had not led to selection by Gujarat Titans again.
Mendis responded to the query but did not provide a direct answer to it.
Rossouw’s “movie” comment draws Shehzad’s ire
Shehzad went on to discuss the comments of Rilee Rossouw, another PSL participant, who had compared the two leagues and described the IPL as being “more of a movie than actual cricket.”
He highlighted that Rossouw linked the IPL’s image to the presence of “Bollywood” and suggested that it comes across as a movie-like spectacle rather than pure cricket. Shehzad said that while Rossouw may make such statements, there is an obvious limitation to how much praise for the IPL can be expected while a player is actively involved in PSL.
In Shehzad’s view, when a PSL player is asked about the IPL during their PSL stint, they cannot realistically be expected to offer straightforward praise for the IPL while they are representing a PSL setup. He therefore argued that the media’s comparison-driven questioning is not only repetitive but also creates an awkward situation for the players being interviewed.
