{"id":2783,"date":"2026-04-15T02:15:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T02:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/ahmed-shehzad-slams-media-for-forcing-psl-vs-ipl-comparisons"},"modified":"2026-04-15T02:15:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T02:15:46","slug":"ahmed-shehzad-slams-media-for-forcing-psl-vs-ipl-comparisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/ahmed-shehzad-slams-media-for-forcing-psl-vs-ipl-comparisons","title":{"rendered":"Ahmed Shehzad Slams Media for Forcing PSL vs IPL Comparisons"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>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\u2014even while those players are actively playing in Pakistan\u2019s league.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Ahmed Shehzad said PSL players are often asked to compare the league to the IPL, despite currently competing in PSL.<\/li>\n<li>He cited questions directed at Kusal Mendis about leaving PSL previously to join the IPL.<\/li>\n<li>Shehzad also referenced Rilee Rossouw\u2019s earlier remarks that the IPL resembles a \u201cmovie\u201d more than cricket.<\/li>\n<li>Shehzad argued that an IPL-style endorsement is unrealistic to expect from players while they are in the PSL environment.<\/li>\n<li>Kusal Mendis is set to represent Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Shehzad questions the \u201cIPL vs PSL\u201d angle<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Shehzad explained the line of questioning by highlighting how reporters have asked Mendis what he thinks about the IPL after \u201clast time you left and went to IPL,\u201d framing it as a direct comparison rather than focusing on his current PSL role and performance.<\/p>\n<h2>Kusal Mendis and the reporter\u2019s \u201cregrets\u201d question<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>One reporter asked Mendis whether he had any \u201cregrets\u201d about joining Gujarat Titans during the season, while Mendis was also associated with Quetta Gladiators. The interviewer suggested that Pakistan\u2019s PSL had shown him \u201crespect\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u201csecurity concerns\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>Mendis responded to the query but did not provide a direct answer to it.<\/p>\n<h2>Rossouw\u2019s \u201cmovie\u201d comment draws Shehzad\u2019s ire<\/h2>\n<p>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 \u201cmore of a movie than actual cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He highlighted that Rossouw linked the IPL\u2019s image to the presence of \u201cBollywood\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>In Shehzad\u2019s 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\u2019s comparison-driven questioning is not only repetitive but also creates an awkward situation for the players being interviewed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Ahmed Shehzad Criticises Media Over PSL vs IPL Claims","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Ahmed Shehzad hits back at media for forcing PSL vs IPL comparisons, saying overseas stars are pushed to talk about the IPL even while playing in Pakistan.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is 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