Shadab breaks silence on team selection criticism linked to Saqlain Mushtaq
Listen to article
Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has rejected allegations that his recent return to the national team was due to favouritism linked to his father-in-law and former head coach, Saqlain Mushtaq.
Khan, who rejoined the squad as vice-captain for the T20I series against New Zealand after a long absence, addressed criticism suggesting his selection was influenced by his familial ties with Saqlain Mushtaq, who has held several roles in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including at the National Cricket Academy.
'It is frustrating and disappointing to hear such things because my career is nearly seven years long,' he told local media.
'I have given some good performances since debuting for Pakistan. Yes, I am learning a lot from Saqlain Mushtaq because of his strong cricket coaching background. But it does not mean he is doing me favours,' he said. 'It hurts when the connection with Saqlain Mushtaq is repeatedly brought up.'
Khan emphasised that while Saqlain's experience has helped him refine his bowling, his selection is based on merit, not personal connections.
'I have been trying to improve my bowling by working with my father-in-law because I consider myself more beneficial to the team as a bowler than a batter,' he added.
'Saqlain Mushtaq is working with me to improve my bowling. I am hopeful that with his guidance, good results will follow, and there will be consistency in my performances.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Babar Azam joins Sydney Sixers for BBL 15: Pakistani cricket icon shares reaction online
The Sydney Sixers have secured Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 15 season. The signing, confirmed on June 13, marks one of the most significant acquisitions in the history of the competition. Babar Azam, widely regarded as one of the finest batters in modern cricket, will bring his skill, consistency, and leadership experience to the Sixers this summer. As per BBL regulations, each team is allowed to sign one international player before the official BBL 15 Draft, which is set to take place on June 19. The Sixers capitalised on this opportunity to secure the services of the Pakistan cricket icon. The development also comes after PCB confirmed it issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to key Pakistani players, allowing Babar to join Sydney Sixers. A veteran of over a decade in Pakistan's national team, Babar captained the side from 2019 to 2024 and led them to the semi-finals of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 edition. Known for his poise under pressure and his technical mastery, he has consistently ranked among the world's top batters in both ODIs and T20Is. Babar's accolades include being named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, as well as ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2022. He also holds the record for the fastest player to reach 5,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 97 innings. With over 11,000 T20 runs to his name, Babar has proven himself a force in the shortest format of the game. Speaking on his signing, Babar expresses enthusiasm and stated he was 'super pumped' to be joining the side. His experience in major global leagues, including the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and various English domestic competitions, further bolsters his credentials. This high-profile signing will see Babar make his debut in the BBL and will add a powerful asset to the Sixers' squad. Notably, Babar will be available for the entire season, including the finals, significantly enhancing the team's prospects for the title. Sydney Sixers squad for BBL 15 (to date): Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Imad urges Babar, Rizwan's inclusion in T20 squad
Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has expressed his strong support for star batter Babar Azam and former T20I captain Mohammad Rizwan, urging critics to trust their capabilities in the T20 format. Speaking in a recent interview with a local sports platform, Imad highlighted the need for adaptability and a fresh mindset in T20 cricket. "Simple is that — that should be the message and if they are willing to change it, if they want to play happy for them because they are such big players such big names for Pakistan and fans because people want to see them play like this and I am specifically talking about T20 cricket," Imad stated. Responding to recent debates surrounding Babar Azam's role in the national side, the 36-year-old clarified that his earlier comments were specifically focused on T20 cricket and not a critique of Babar's performances in other formats. "I am not talking about ODI or Test cricket because in ODI cricket Babar has got the best record in the world he will never be dropped to be honest and even in Test cricket so no question about Babar's performance like it's 50-over format you need some players to play like that and Babar does it better than anyone else in the world so One-Day cricket is totally different," he explained. Imad further stressed the importance of introspection among senior players when it comes to the T20 format. "But T20 I am talking about, I think they need to reflect if they they want to play T20 cricket and I know they can play and hopefully they will turn up and prove everybody wrong and I should be the one who will praise them," he concluded. For the unversed, Babar Azam — who led Pakistan in three consecutive ICC Men's T20 World Cups (2021, 2022, and 2024) — last played a T20I in December 2023. Since then, he has missed both the home series against New Zealand in March and the ongoing three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which began on May 28 in Lahore. Babar, who has faced criticism for his dip in form in T20Is, has not scored a half-century since his 75-run innings against Ireland in May 2023. He has represented Pakistan in 128 T20Is, scoring 4,223 runs at an average of 39.83, including three centuries and 36 fifties. Earlier this year, both Babar and Rizwan were left out of the five-match T20I series in New Zealand as selectors looked to give opportunities to younger players. The duo has yet to return to the T20I setup since then. In a notable change, Mohammad Rizwan was recently removed from the T20I captaincy after leading the side in just two series. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha was named the new skipper and recently guided Pakistan to a dominant 3-0 series win over Bangladesh in Lahore.
Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pak to tour WI for ODIs, T20s in July
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has completed internal discussions regarding the white-ball squads for upcoming international assignments, sources confirmed on Thursday. According to insiders, the PCB is waiting for a response from the West Indies Cricket Board (CWI) on a proposal to convert the three-match ODI series into T20 Internationals (T20Is). If approved, the board is expected to announce a joint T20 squad for both the Bangladesh and West Indies series. Sources said that the PCB is hopeful the CWI will agree to the proposed change, as the switch would align better with preparations for the T20-format ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The squad announcement is expected soon after a formal response is received from the West Indies board. While no major changes are anticipated in the T20 squad, sources indicate that left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem is likely to be included. However, the return of senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi remains uncertain for the upcoming matches. The PCB's selection committee is hopeful that these senior players will bounce back, taking inspiration from other top players who made successful comebacks in the past. Players have been told that the door for selection remains open, and strong performances in domestic and league cricket will improve their chances of a recall. The selection committee is also focusing on identifying and preparing young talent to meet the demands of modern cricket. Pakistan is currently scheduled to tour the USA and West Indies in July and August for a white-ball series, which includes three T20Is and three ODIs. The T20Is are set to take place on July 31, August 2, and August 3, while the ODIs are planned for August 8, 10, and 12 at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. However, the schedule may be revised if the ODI matches are officially converted to T20Is following further discussions between the PCB and CWI. Change in selection committee The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday confirmed that only one change has been made to the national men's selection committee, which otherwise remains 'intact'. In an official statement, the board clarified that data analyst Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi, who will assist the selection committee but will not have any voting rights during team selection. "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the national selection committee remains intact," the statement read. A PCB spokesperson added, "The Board has only replaced the data analyst, who will have no voting right during team selection. Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi as the data analyst to assist the selection committee." The rest of the selection panel remains unchanged, including former interim head coach Aaqib Javed, umpire Aleem Dar, and former cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq - all of whom hold voting rights. Members of the national selection committee: Aaqib Javed (Member), Aleem Dar (Member), Asad Shafiq (Member), Azhar Ali (Member). The PCB also stated that the committee will remain bound to consult with the head coach and captain of the respective teams before finalizing any squad. This statement came in response to recent media reports claiming a major reshuffle in the committee was expected, which included the possible removal of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. Reports had suggested that former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and cricket analyst Sikandar Bakht - known for frequently criticizing PCB policies - were being considered as replacements.
