Perplexed? So were we. Just what made Yorkshire jettison the bowler that only last week coach Jason Gillespie described as "a fantastic bowler"? We've been investigating the possible reasons here at the Reverse Sweep.
Secret Texts
In a routine check on Shahzad's mobile phone, several congratulatory texts sent to Lancashire players in wake of their championship triumph last September were discovered and brought to the attention of Colin Graves. The chairman concluded it was a "bloody disgrace" and immediately reached for his axe.
Names
As a proud Englishman, Graves had previously presented Shahzad with an ultimatum to change his christian name on account of the wreckage caused to England's batting over the winter by one Saeed Ajmal. Shahzad refused - et voilà.
Upsetting Sir Geoffrey
It is little known that Shahzad is a bit of a prankster and an expert computer hacker. Having surreptitiously gained access to new Yorkshire president Geoffrey Boycott's iPad, Shahzad uploaded a virus, which meant that every time Boycott tried to open an application, a replay of that fearsome over to Boycott in 1981 from Michael Holding played. This proved too much for Boycott, who still bears the psychological scars and sticks of rhubarb to this day.
Enraging Bres
Not content with incurring the wrath of Boycott, Shahzad frustrated by the knowledge that Tim Bresnan would be given the new ball at Scarborough against Leicestershire, was caught out enacting Tanya Aldred's witty line in this year's Wisden that Bresnan "still has the air of a man with an emergency cheese sandwich in his back pocket". Shahzad was caught red handed by his irate team mate with a baguette filled with camembert in one hand and Bresnan's cricket whites in the other.
Mind the hair
Shahzad could normally have counted on the support of his usual new ball partner Ryan Sidebottom, but an hour before being apprehended by Bresnan, he had been exposed as the culprit who sabotaged Sidebottom's beloved curling tongs during last week's numerous rain breaks at Chelmsford.
Morgan's solitary friend
Never ones to like a scab, Yorkshire's players were furious when they discovered that Shahzad was the only one of their number to have registered his support in the recently published survey by the Professional Cricketers' Association of the Morgan Report.
Dizzy
The final straw was when Shahzad's last supporter - Gillespie - finally tired of Shahzad humming the irritating early nineties tune by Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff whenever he was in his presence.
Don't believe any other rubbish you might hear.
Where next?
County Championship XI of the week #4
County Championship 2012 Preview: Division 2 - Yorkshire
Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves gets straight to the point
10 reasons why neutrals should be glad Lancashire won the County Championship
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