Pakistan selection committees’ announcements and public criticism have always gone side by side. Perhaps, it is more fitting to say that the former hardly gives a chance to the latter to not wag the tongues. PCB selection committee, headed by Iqbal Qasim, recently [on Thursday] announced Pakistan’s squads for Test, ODI and Twenty20I series to be played against Sri Lanka in coming dog days of June and July. As it turns out, the selectors, once again, find themselves in hot water for doing nepotism – parchi could be more appropriate word if I would be forgiven for using desi slang – in team selections.
Albeit there aren’t sea changes in Pakistan squads but some inclusions and omissions in each squad are enough to wrinkle the brows. The questions are being raised on comebacks of Imran Farhat in ODIs, Mohammad Sami in all the three formats, Faisal Iqbal in Tests and for cold shouldering Hammad Azam from ODI squad.

Hell hath no fury like a selection of Imran Farhat back in team and this time it happened without any aid from his in-laws. (Photo Credit: AFP)
Mohammad Sami’s sequence of never-ending comebacks into national team continued after he was picked to face-off Sri Lankan team. It is astonishing to know that his selection came after he could grab only 1 wicket in five Twenty20s at bowling average of 134 he played in the recent Super Eight Faysal Bank T20 at Rawalpindi. Also the notion, that he is selected for his 39 wickets at bowling average of 19.82 in 11 matches of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2011-12, gets aborted with the fact Ali Imran (60 Wickets in 11 matches), Imran Khan (58 wickets in 10 matches), Fahad Masood (52 Wickets in 8 matches), Mohammad Khalil (45 wickets in 8 matches) performed with better bowling averages than of Sami’s in the same event, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In that order, if Sami can rejoin umpteenth time due to his QAE Trophy performance then what defect those fast bowlers hold who have been taking more wickets than him over the years.
If Bangladesh Premier League was the criteria for selectors to call him in the Test outfit then they have given him one more shot in the arm to further deteriorate his bowling average, which is already the worst in the history of Test Cricket with 50 wickets cut-off – even Shahadat Hossain sits proudly ahead of him. He might have done well in the BPL but as soon as he came back in Pakistan’s domestic Cricket, against better domestic batsmen than those in BPL, his reputation was cut down to size for he took only 4 wickets in last 10 limited-over matches(five Twenty20 and five List A games) he played in Pakistan.
Mohammad Khalil and Mohammad Talha were selected last winter ahead of Bangladesh and England Test series, respectively. Khalil couldn’t get a game while Talha injured himself prior to start of Tests against England. It happens only in Pakistan that a player gets selected, doesn’t get a game and gets dropped for not getting a game. They both were better suited for national recalls after having performed consistently, and better than Sami, in First Class arena of Pakistan.
Then there is curious case of 23-year-old left-arm pacer Rahat Ali from Multan, his selection in only ODI squad comes with rather surprise since it was longer version of the game where he has been more productive. Rahat has 107 wickets at average of under 20 in his career’s 27 First Class Matches, which includes three back-to-back 5-wicket hauls in recent Pentangular Cup where he played for Baluchistan, was up against relatively stronger corps of Punjab & Sindh. He got selected in Pakistan’s ODI Squad notwithstanding he has played only one limited-over domestic match in last 8 months and has taken mere 9 wickets in as many List A (Domestic One Day) matches of his career.
The selectors must and should have found a room for Rahat Ali’s selection in Test squad but then it was possible only if they had averted nepotism which brings Sami in Test corps.
Imran Farhat’s selection doesn’t come less shocking than Sami’s Test bowling average. Hell hath no fury like a selection of Farhat back in team. It was a sigh of relief once he was rebuffed from Asia Cup but the relief has short-lived as he is back in ODI squad. This time it happened without any aid from his in-laws, who now don’t hold a chair in the selection committee. Not sure if the in-laws still had some input to offer under the table. His inclusion and snub to Hammad Azam leave Pakistan ODI team with only one all-rounder [Shahid Afridi] who can bat in late down the order.
But Shahid Afridi’s own batting form is in decline lately, imagine a plight of this team when its late order fails to get along with runs compiled by top-order or forestall a batting collapse, which has been Pakistan’s wont over the years.
There is also a notorious nephew Faisal Iqbal, who last played for Pakistan in Sydney Test 2010, selected back. He might have attracted the selectors with his 750 runs in 12 matches of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2011-12 but it distracted his caretakers as they neatly ignore the likes of Usman Salahuddin, who piled up 975 runs with average of 81.25 in 8 matches of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division II, and riding on his QAE Trophy form amassed 426 runs (with 3 centuries) in 5 matches of Pentangular Cup where he played for Punjab.
Even a Fawad Alam or Haris Sohail, third and fourth leading run-hunters of QAE Trophy, could have been brought to the fore at the expense of Faisal Iqbal, who finds 10 run-hunters ahead of him. Alam scored a Test century on debut at an essential stage last time when Pakistan toured Sri Lanka, was dropped just 2 Tests later and wasted by ODI and T20 Cricket, which were never his traits. Haris Sohail, like Alam, could have also provided Pakistan utility of a left-hand batsman which they don’t have any in the current middle-order.
The meritorious players like Usman Salahuddin, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Rahat Ali etc have to bear the brunt of nepotism given to Faisal Iqbal, Mohammad Sami and Imran Farhat. Only due to the gratuitous selections, the meritorious players have to live their lives on fringes of Pakistan squads and they get their chances only when the gratuitous selections have decayed them.
Nevertheless, selection of all new batsmen, including Afaq Raheem and Ayub Dogar – the both have been selected on merit, could only turn out to be a mere holiday trip of dog days in the Ceylon as none from the current top and middle order (Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq) looks like losing his place unless there is an injury or a dramatic batting collapse in first two Tests of Sri Lanka tour.
Written by Mazher Arshad [ Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/cricket_U ]
I dont understand why the writer is going for criticism for criticism? If there are better alternatives then come up with it. Asad Shafiq,Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmad are in the squad. Is this squad is not a good mix of youngsters and experienced players. Have the writer criticised Younis Khans selection for ODI,Shoaib Maliks and Yasir Arafats selection for T20,Ignoring Ahmad Shahzad for ODIs, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridis self batting blunders in numerous matches in past. If the writer is aware with the record of Faisal Iqbal and Mohammad Sami he must not criticised their selection as they have tried there best from years to make a mark in domestic cricket and they deserve a chance of comeback. What has done wrong by Faisal Iqbal at Banglore in 2007 and Mohammad Sami at Sydney in 2010?
Mazher bhai what about Imran Nazir. He can be very useful for t20 and also for ODI’s. Abdul Razzaq was also not used properly, he was wasted. He also deserves a place.
Well i disagree with the selectors cox they have put on sami in all three formats just bcox of his performence in Bpl.In place of Faisal Iqbal they shud have brought in M.Yousaf.Hairs Sohail shud have been selected in Odis.Shoaib Malik shud also be given a chance in Odis.Wahab Riaz k sath pure zyadati ho rae ha.Junaid shud have been in all three formats of the game he is young and has got stamina.Imran Farhat sud have been dropped i mean not selected.Hamad Azam shud be selected in odis as well.Imran nazir shud have been given a chance.And where the hell have they sent Tanvir Ahmad from test squad..??
Sarfaraz shud have been selected for tests also.
Mazhar Bhai…I really think that Test Cricket need some kind of attacking player so we can hope that any test which going towards draw and we can win through the strokes of hard hitting player examples are .. umer akmal,Ahmed Shahzad,Nasir Jamshed,Imran Nazir…Not only slow batsman should part of the team… see the Australian team when they were on top they were scored more then 150 in a session i truely belive that there should be some attacking playeres in test cricket … Whats your though on this.
Select MEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so Muhammad Hafeez is the T20 captain. I guess the name “Professor” caught on really fast.
article on the T20 selection; I am appalled at the selection of Shakeel Ansar. in twenty games with Sialkot, his high score was 22. on his 26th game, thanks to lady luck, he scored a century. and bam! he’s in the team. disappointing. Khalid Latif was good in the domestic circuit, but let’s face it, he isn’t a twenty 20 player. he’s played an ODI for Pakistan in which he scored 66 with a s/r of 55. that isn’t potential my friend. Malik and Sohail Tanvir don’t deserve call ups at all. I’m really happy to see, however, the selection of Muhammad Sami in the team. My current favourite bowler’s potential is finally recognized once more. I’ve had my eyes on Haris Sohail for quite some time now, it’s good he’s getting a chance. Raza Hassan, i’m not sure we have place for another spinner but he’s been fantastic in the domestic run. openers Ahmad Shahzad and Nasir Jamshed was a really good touch. i don’t like Hammad Azam being forced to perform though, he isn’t doing good, expel him from the team. i for one, think this is his last tour. Imran Farhat, like you said, is an outrage. i’m excited at Rahat Ali’s selection because of his pace as well.
and by the way, i am a huge fan of yours.
Mazher bhai no words about shoaib malik???
My major focus was on Test Cricket. Malik is selected only in T20s which he deserved on ground performances.
Wicket keepers ko kabi promote hi nahi kia gaya sahi se aur phir ye keh ke bahir ker dia gaya ke unhone achi performance nahi di batting men and we need a wicket keeper who can bat..same done with sarfaraz,Mohammad Salman… may be now with Shakeel ansar…If you will not promote wicket keeper on top or in middle order how they will prove batting at number 8.. Are they tailender ? Like kamran Akmal proved his batting only when he got the chance in top order in westindies when he scored a century..Your comments Mazar bhai on this
why not imran nazir?
I would say Yasir Arafat also deservce chance in Test Matches to fullfill an all rounder position.He has plenty of experience of playing county cricket and he performed well enough there.He also can bat well in the middle/lower order when Pakistan need same as Tanveer Ahmed as a bowler and pinch hitter lower down the order.
For me the most condemning aspect of this selection is thoughtlessness. Pakistan need a proper all-rounder in ODI team and Hammad is the best young all-rounder going around. If we are not going to give him a proper run in ODIs, how would he prove his worth. I am also very disappointed the way selectors drop M. Talha, the guy has serious potential, give him a proper run at test level and he will deliver the goods.
AOA Dear All , i would like share my understnding IMRAN FARHAT is a big Parchi If Sami can Select on BPL Performance then why not Imran Nazir , Ahmed Shezd , Ahmed Shzaib not even in T20 ………..Common Mr. Iqbal Qsim
Mazher Bhai, I totally agree with your views except Haris Sohail, I think he deserved his selection.
I never disagreed with Haris Sohail’s selection. I even said he might have been given chance in Tests ahead of Faisal
Totally agreed Mazher Bhai, no doubt M.Sami un fewest bowlers man say 1 hy jo 150+ pace say bowling kr sakty hn, but hamary selecters and coaches nay pahly usy polish nai kiya jub zarorat the, ub usy again chance day diya hy pta nai kis base pay, Imran Farhat, say better Ahmad Shehzad or Imran Nazir ki selection krty tu merit lgta bhi, un 2ono nay bhi BPL even Super Eight T20 man hi perform kiya tha….
if there is one thing that will destroy pakistan cricket more n more , that is geo super program bole kya baat he , mirza iqbal baig yahya hussaini are only pro karachi n the pressurise board officials to include those players , for mirza iqbal fawad alam khurram manzoor n khalid latif r world best players lol
a true reflection of un baised pakistani opinion!
Mazher Bhai What About Sadaf Hussain?????????
Sadaf is also a good bowler but I heard he lacks pace. At the moment, Rahat Ali is being said as best talent in Pakistan
i totally agree with you.I am always hurt when someone like Fawad Aalam,Sadaf Hussain,Usman Slahuddin,Umer Amin And Anwar Ali are ignored.I am a big big fan of both Umaer Amin And Fawad Aalam.Don;t you think they should have picked Umer Akmal for test squad coz he is the only one who can get some quick runs otherwise all other bats are really really slow.In last few years we have hardly scored more than three runs in an over in test.We have always been scoring at 2.7/2.8 runs an over.A test match doesn’t mean that you just sleep on the pitch.As for as Faisal Iqbal is concerned he is the worst starter i have ever seen in last 17-18 years.Anyone who say Sami deserves a chance should not forget that he has 5-6 comebacks and also if you remember M Sami,Ashish Nehra And Stever harmisson they all lost their places and their career was ruined because they couldn’t control their extras-And at the end i’ll jus say Why they keep giving chances to likes of Faisal Iqbal,M Sami,Yasir Hameed.Taufeeq Umer,Imran farhat–they wer all given plenty of chances and lot of comeback but they didn’t imrove themselves.Am also hurt foe not selecting Imran nazeer and Ahmad shahzad and i m also sure our selectore have no reason for ignoring Shehryar ghani
all the selection is good.with few exceptions. Faisal Iqbal doesn’t deserved the place. Sami should not be in test side instead wahab riaz should be in test side.i think selectors should have given one more chance to awaiz zia. most disappointing is not selecting hammad in ODI.
i think its a good team selection…….we should appreciate selectors atleast they give chance to new and fresh playerss….bold decision by selectors.
only bad selection is imran farhat
@Zeeshan- Faisal and Sami are not new players. They bring two new players with two old players, who have been tried many times. And I tell you, Afaq Raheem and Ayub Dogar might not get any chance but Sami and Faisal might.
Well Said Mazher….
Ali Ibne Hassan- Taufeeq Umar scored century vs West Indies, double century vs Sri Lanka, century vs Bangladesh. I agree that he couldn’t perform in last Test series but nearly all the openers, barring Cook, failed in that series. And it would be harsh to drop him just after one bad series. Yeah, if he fails vs Sri Lanka then Afaq Raheem should be given chance.
Yaar Mazher Arshad bhai…. Aap ne likha k Afaq Raheem aur Ayub Dogar bs seir krne gaye hain unko jaga milna mushkil hai….
Kya apko nahi lgta k Taufeeq Umer ki form b koi itni impressive nahi hai usko easily drop kr k Afaq Raheem ko debut kraya jaa skta hai as an opener ya phir Azher Ali ko opening pe promote kr k Afaq ko midl ordr ma chance diya jaa ksta hai……..
And Wahab Riaz ko drop krna b utna hi mayoos kun hai jitna k Hammad Azam ko….. And Mohammed Sami se better choice Anwer Ali hai aur Imran Farhat k bare main to kuch kehna b waqt ka ziyaa hai……….
well m totly agree wid u mazher bhai.I reali dint understand wat de selectors r doing?
agree wid u y dont dey select Hammad Or Abdul Razzaq In odi’s Cux afridi ix not in his good form in Batting n dey droped both ov de Allrounders.Imran FArhat De Biggest sifarshi in Cricket World who has been selected in Odi’s Squad.Even i can Imran NAzir performed better den him n dey droped him even Ahmed Shahzad also better choice den him.Where did Farhat perfomed in Domestic?n Mazhar Bhai m reali Shocked dey droped t20 Speacilist Junaid khan who is de best t20 bowler who perfomed in Friends lifet20. N Dey droped him.Y de hell Sohail tanveer is selected in t20 vr he perfomed?n yasir arafat? Azhar mehmood is better den him.N wahab riaz 1 ov mah all tym fvrt fast bowler after shoaib Akhtar is droped what is dis yar.After all dis i can only says 60 to 70% sifarshi selection. Thankz
Yeah, Junaid Khan should have been in Twenty20s. He is a good bowler of death overs. Imran Farhat we all know why is in team, Ahmad Shahzad should have been preferred if they had to select third opener.
About Haris Sohail,
I think You did not follow Super 8 T20 Cup in which he scored 218 runs in 6 matches with Avg 109, and also scored not out fifties in semi final and final.
But I think he should be in ODI rather than T20
Nowhere I disagreed to Haris Sohail’s selection.