'They are targeting Punjab players': Junaid Khan claims regional bias in blame for Pakistan’s 1st Test defeat to Bangladesh

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'They are targeting Punjab players': Junaid Khan claims regional bias in blame for Pakistan’s 1st Test defeat to Bangladesh

'They are targeting Punjab players': Junaid Khan claims regional bias in blame for Pakistan’s 1st Test defeat to Bangladesh

Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh got off to a humiliating start for the visitors, and former pacer Junaid Khan has waded into the debate of regional bias.

'They are targeting Punjab players': Junaid Khan claims regional bias in blame for Pakistan’s 1st Test defeat to Bangladesh

Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh got off to a humiliating start for the visitors, and former pacer Junaid Khan has waded into the debate of regional bias.

Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh has started in the worst possible way—a crushing 104-run defeat in the first Test—and former pacer Junaid Khan isn't just pointing fingers at the players' performances. He's raising a much bigger question: is regional bias influencing who gets blamed?

Pakistan collapsed dramatically on the final day, losing all 10 wickets to fall short of a modest target. For a team with Pakistan's proud history, being outplayed on the subcontinent like this stings. It sparks inevitable questions about preparation, attitude, and leadership—and all eyes are now on the second Test, where Babar Azam could return and possibly reclaim the captaincy.

But Junaid Khan has thrown a controversial twist into the debate. He argues that the public anger isn't being spread evenly. Instead, he claims players from the Punjab province—specifically Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi—are being unfairly singled out, while others who underperformed are escaping scrutiny.

"The entire blame was put on Imam-ul-Haq, who played a good innings of 45 in the first innings," Junaid said. "Then they blamed Rizwan, even though he scored a fifty in the first innings. And then they targeted Shaheen. Yes, his pace was down, but he still took five or six wickets on flat pitches."

It's a pointed reminder that in the heat of defeat, the conversation can sometimes be less about cricket and more about politics—regional or otherwise. For fans and players alike, the focus should be on how Pakistan bounces back in the second Test, not on where the players come from.

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