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Aaqib Javed, Mike Hesson & T20I Captain Salman Ali Agha speaking during the Press Conference:
Aaqib Javed speaking about Haris Rauf’s exclusion from the squad:
“We think about the conditions in which you are playing and what combination can be better in those conditions. Rauf has been playing for Pakistan for quite some time. But if you look at the recent past, a different combination has been developing. So, considering the conditions, since most matches are in Sri Lanka, we had to think about what the best bowling composition could be there. Keeping that in mind, this team has been selected.”
About including Babar Azam in both the T20 World Cup squad and the squad against Australia:
“Some cricket is played in Australia, some in Asia. So, you look at what value a player can bring in the conditions in Sri Lanka. If you look at the last Asia Cup, we felt that a batter like him is necessary in the squad for those particular challenging conditions. That’s why he has a specific role. Based on the conditions, he is definitely the most consistent batter. So sometimes you have to include such players in the team.”
About the role of fast bowlers in today’s cricket:
“The game has changed. Conditions have changed. At times, when we talk about bowling, we mix things up. Choices in Test cricket, ODI cricket, and T20 cricket cannot be the same. For example, in the last series in Bangladesh, you saw how the ball became wet during night matches. We are still stuck in the 90s era, but now reverse swing doesn’t happen the same way, and conditions are entirely different. ODI cricket and T20 cricket are entirely different formats. So, you cannot give the same examples anymore.”
“Sometimes you get high-scoring matches of 180 to 200 runs, but sometimes, like in the last Asia Cup, pitches became challenging, and matches didn’t go beyond 200 runs. In those situations, you need a technically sound batter in the middle.”
About Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan:
“You have to see what batting composition your team needs. Babar is seen by both the coach and captain as someone who can play a vital role. It’s not about giving one player a chance and denying another. The focus is on building a competitive batting lineup. We don’t think in terms of comparisons like “why him and not the other.” There is no logic in the question that one player got selected, and the other did not so we have to think who fits better in this squad, and which player makes the team stronger?”
“As for Usman Khan, his selection is about availability and the type of cricket we need. When you build a batting unit of seven or eight players, you look for a mix that can perform under any total or condition.”
About the late squad announcement and batting order:
“According to ICC requirements, names had to be submitted by the 30th. We cannot change the squad based on one last performance. This squad is a continuation of the players who have been playing in recent series, not something entirely new. Yes, choices change slightly depending on conditions, but overall, it’s consistent.”
“As for batting orders, in Pakistan we still think of T20 like Test or ODI cricket, but it’s entirely different. No team fixes batting orders beyond openers. Neither India nor Sri Lanka doesn’t have rigid batting order. We need to think differently about T20 cricket.”
“Regarding captaincy, Salman Ali Agha is currently one of the most consistent performers for Pakistan over the last four years. Babar has captained before; now, Salman is the captain. There’s no issue of ego or misunderstanding. Everyone understands their role.”
About taking responsibility of team’s performance as a selector:
“Yes, I own this squad. Responsibility is mine as much as anyone else’s. If you want, I’ll take full responsibility. Past tournaments didn’t go well, but this squad is based on recent performances and combinations developed with the coach and captain. I am positive and hopeful that Pakistan will not only perform well but can even win this World Cup.”
About Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fitness, Mohammad Wasim Jr’s exclusion, and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi's statement about participation:
“We are selectors, and our job is to select the team. This is not too early—we are announcing close to the ICC deadline, which is the 30th. As for participation, that is for the government to decide. The Chairman has already said the government will make the decision, and we will wait for that.”
“Regarding Mohammad Wasim Jr., as Mike mentioned, in T20 cricket, there are two types of bowlers: those who can bowl in all three phases (new ball, middle overs, and death overs), and those whose best skill is only in the middle and death overs. Wasim Jr. and Haris Rauf fall into the second category. If you go with only two seamers and more spinners, then your first-choice seamers must be those who can bowl both with the new ball and at the death. That’s why bowlers like Haris or Wasim are usually picked when you go with three seamers. This is a technical reason, not a reflection on their ability. If the matches were in South Africa, Australia, or England, the composition would have been entirely different.”
“As for Shaheen Shah Afridi, yes, he is fully fit. He had some pressure in his knee earlier, but he returned to Pakistan and recovered completely. That’s why he is in the squad, and he is definitely our number one bowler. We expect him to perform well.”
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Mike Hesson speaking about Usman Khan’s selection and exclusion of Mohammad Rizwan:
“Usman Khan has shown experience since returning to Pakistan cricket. He has played crucial innings, including not-outs in chases, and his wicketkeeping has been of high quality, especially in Sri Lanka. The role we want from a keeper-batter is someone who can bat in the middle order, around positions five or six, not at the top like Rizwan. That’s why Rizwan doesn’t fit the current role. Sahibzada Farhan is also a backup keeper, but unfortunately, he has had injury issues. So, Usman Khan is the most suitable option right now.”
Mike Hesson on Haris Rauf’s exclusion:
“When we decided to only take three seamers, Wasim Jr., Ahmed Daniyal, and Haris Rauf were certainly considered, but unfortunately, there was no spot for them. The three frontline seamers are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Naseem Shah, who can all bowl in all three phases of the game. Previous world cup, we took an extra seamer given the extra seam conditions there. Now, we picked three frontline seamers plus Faheem Ashraf as an all-rounder.”
About Babar Azam’s selection:
“The ability to attack in the powerplay is crucial, and Babar Azam brings many other skills to the side. His return to the T20 squad is important because he has the ability to control the middle overs. Alongside other players, his presence adds stability and flexibility to the batting unit. We are trying to build a team that can adapt to different conditions, whether in Sri Lanka or Australia, and play according to what the situation requires.”
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Salman Ali Agha speaking about his form as captain and Babar Azam’s selection:
“Regarding Babar Azam, since his comeback, he has not performed as badly as people portray him. Yes, his Big Bash stint wasn’t good, but those were different conditions. In Pakistan’s T20s, he has been performing better, including a 70 against Zimbabwe and a match-winning knock against South Africa in the Asia Cup. For me, his performances for Pakistan matter most, and they have been good enough.”
About Batting plan:
“No two players are the same. Everyone has their own role and style. My role is different, Babar’s is different. Only the openers’ positions are fixed. Beyond that, in T20, you use players according to the situation. Sometimes you send a left-hander earlier, sometimes a power-hitter, depending on the match scenario. Numbers don’t matter as much as roles, and we all know our roles clearly.”
About the advantage of playing all games in Sri Lanka:
“Yes, this is an advantage. Other teams will be traveling to different hotels and different grounds, while we will be playing in Colombo across two or three grounds but staying in one hotel. That is definitely an advantage. But it doesn’t mean that if you don’t play good cricket, you will still win. If you talk about India, the advantage was there, but performance still mattered.”
About Pakistan’s performance in past tournaments and par scores in those conditions:
“Yes, absolutely, in the last three tournaments, our performances have not been good. Playing a World Cup is always challenging because you face all the top teams, and in such a tournament, you cannot relax in any situation. In T20, especially, you cannot afford to relax. The World Cup will definitely be challenging, but we are ready and excited for it.”
“As for par scores, I cannot say exactly until we see the conditions there. But normally, in Sri Lanka, especially at Premadasa in Colombo, high-scoring games are rare. We will have to assess conditions on arrival, but I don’t think we’ll see very high scores there.”
Aaqib Javed speaking about Haris Rauf’s exclusion from the squad:
“We think about the conditions in which you are playing and what combination can be better in those conditions. Rauf has been playing for Pakistan for quite some time. But if you look at the recent past, a different combination has been developing. So, considering the conditions, since most matches are in Sri Lanka, we had to think about what the best bowling composition could be there. Keeping that in mind, this team has been selected.”
About including Babar Azam in both the T20 World Cup squad and the squad against Australia:
“Some cricket is played in Australia, some in Asia. So, you look at what value a player can bring in the conditions in Sri Lanka. If you look at the last Asia Cup, we felt that a batter like him is necessary in the squad for those particular challenging conditions. That’s why he has a specific role. Based on the conditions, he is definitely the most consistent batter. So sometimes you have to include such players in the team.”
About the role of fast bowlers in today’s cricket:
“The game has changed. Conditions have changed. At times, when we talk about bowling, we mix things up. Choices in Test cricket, ODI cricket, and T20 cricket cannot be the same. For example, in the last series in Bangladesh, you saw how the ball became wet during night matches. We are still stuck in the 90s era, but now reverse swing doesn’t happen the same way, and conditions are entirely different. ODI cricket and T20 cricket are entirely different formats. So, you cannot give the same examples anymore.”
“Sometimes you get high-scoring matches of 180 to 200 runs, but sometimes, like in the last Asia Cup, pitches became challenging, and matches didn’t go beyond 200 runs. In those situations, you need a technically sound batter in the middle.”
About Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan:
“You have to see what batting composition your team needs. Babar is seen by both the coach and captain as someone who can play a vital role. It’s not about giving one player a chance and denying another. The focus is on building a competitive batting lineup. We don’t think in terms of comparisons like “why him and not the other.” There is no logic in the question that one player got selected, and the other did not so we have to think who fits better in this squad, and which player makes the team stronger?”
“As for Usman Khan, his selection is about availability and the type of cricket we need. When you build a batting unit of seven or eight players, you look for a mix that can perform under any total or condition.”
About the late squad announcement and batting order:
“According to ICC requirements, names had to be submitted by the 30th. We cannot change the squad based on one last performance. This squad is a continuation of the players who have been playing in recent series, not something entirely new. Yes, choices change slightly depending on conditions, but overall, it’s consistent.”
“As for batting orders, in Pakistan we still think of T20 like Test or ODI cricket, but it’s entirely different. No team fixes batting orders beyond openers. Neither India nor Sri Lanka doesn’t have rigid batting order. We need to think differently about T20 cricket.”
“Regarding captaincy, Salman Ali Agha is currently one of the most consistent performers for Pakistan over the last four years. Babar has captained before; now, Salman is the captain. There’s no issue of ego or misunderstanding. Everyone understands their role.”
About taking responsibility of team’s performance as a selector:
“Yes, I own this squad. Responsibility is mine as much as anyone else’s. If you want, I’ll take full responsibility. Past tournaments didn’t go well, but this squad is based on recent performances and combinations developed with the coach and captain. I am positive and hopeful that Pakistan will not only perform well but can even win this World Cup.”
About Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fitness, Mohammad Wasim Jr’s exclusion, and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi's statement about participation:
“We are selectors, and our job is to select the team. This is not too early—we are announcing close to the ICC deadline, which is the 30th. As for participation, that is for the government to decide. The Chairman has already said the government will make the decision, and we will wait for that.”
“Regarding Mohammad Wasim Jr., as Mike mentioned, in T20 cricket, there are two types of bowlers: those who can bowl in all three phases (new ball, middle overs, and death overs), and those whose best skill is only in the middle and death overs. Wasim Jr. and Haris Rauf fall into the second category. If you go with only two seamers and more spinners, then your first-choice seamers must be those who can bowl both with the new ball and at the death. That’s why bowlers like Haris or Wasim are usually picked when you go with three seamers. This is a technical reason, not a reflection on their ability. If the matches were in South Africa, Australia, or England, the composition would have been entirely different.”
“As for Shaheen Shah Afridi, yes, he is fully fit. He had some pressure in his knee earlier, but he returned to Pakistan and recovered completely. That’s why he is in the squad, and he is definitely our number one bowler. We expect him to perform well.”
------------------
Mike Hesson speaking about Usman Khan’s selection and exclusion of Mohammad Rizwan:
“Usman Khan has shown experience since returning to Pakistan cricket. He has played crucial innings, including not-outs in chases, and his wicketkeeping has been of high quality, especially in Sri Lanka. The role we want from a keeper-batter is someone who can bat in the middle order, around positions five or six, not at the top like Rizwan. That’s why Rizwan doesn’t fit the current role. Sahibzada Farhan is also a backup keeper, but unfortunately, he has had injury issues. So, Usman Khan is the most suitable option right now.”
Mike Hesson on Haris Rauf’s exclusion:
“When we decided to only take three seamers, Wasim Jr., Ahmed Daniyal, and Haris Rauf were certainly considered, but unfortunately, there was no spot for them. The three frontline seamers are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Naseem Shah, who can all bowl in all three phases of the game. Previous world cup, we took an extra seamer given the extra seam conditions there. Now, we picked three frontline seamers plus Faheem Ashraf as an all-rounder.”
About Babar Azam’s selection:
“The ability to attack in the powerplay is crucial, and Babar Azam brings many other skills to the side. His return to the T20 squad is important because he has the ability to control the middle overs. Alongside other players, his presence adds stability and flexibility to the batting unit. We are trying to build a team that can adapt to different conditions, whether in Sri Lanka or Australia, and play according to what the situation requires.”
------------------------
Salman Ali Agha speaking about his form as captain and Babar Azam’s selection:
“Regarding Babar Azam, since his comeback, he has not performed as badly as people portray him. Yes, his Big Bash stint wasn’t good, but those were different conditions. In Pakistan’s T20s, he has been performing better, including a 70 against Zimbabwe and a match-winning knock against South Africa in the Asia Cup. For me, his performances for Pakistan matter most, and they have been good enough.”
About Batting plan:
“No two players are the same. Everyone has their own role and style. My role is different, Babar’s is different. Only the openers’ positions are fixed. Beyond that, in T20, you use players according to the situation. Sometimes you send a left-hander earlier, sometimes a power-hitter, depending on the match scenario. Numbers don’t matter as much as roles, and we all know our roles clearly.”
About the advantage of playing all games in Sri Lanka:
“Yes, this is an advantage. Other teams will be traveling to different hotels and different grounds, while we will be playing in Colombo across two or three grounds but staying in one hotel. That is definitely an advantage. But it doesn’t mean that if you don’t play good cricket, you will still win. If you talk about India, the advantage was there, but performance still mattered.”
About Pakistan’s performance in past tournaments and par scores in those conditions:
“Yes, absolutely, in the last three tournaments, our performances have not been good. Playing a World Cup is always challenging because you face all the top teams, and in such a tournament, you cannot relax in any situation. In T20, especially, you cannot afford to relax. The World Cup will definitely be challenging, but we are ready and excited for it.”
“As for par scores, I cannot say exactly until we see the conditions there. But normally, in Sri Lanka, especially at Premadasa in Colombo, high-scoring games are rare. We will have to assess conditions on arrival, but I don’t think we’ll see very high scores there.”
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