[EXCLUSIVE] "I wasn't given a fair chance": Saad Nasim

[BouncerGuy]

There are a bunch of players in Pakistan who toil hard in domestic cricket for years before they get a chance to represent Pakistan. And when they do, they are only given a handful of matches before sidelining them forever.

Hafiz Saad Nasim is one such player who followed the complete selection pathway before getting picked for Pakistan in 2015.

In his very second game vs Bangladesh, Saad finished with 77* and remained the highest scorer for Pakistan. He only got one ODI game after that. Nasim faced similar treatment in T20Is as well where he got just 3 games and was again, the top scorer for Pakistan in one of the matches.

In the latest episode of PakPassion exclusive interviews, Mohammad Aizaz talks to Saad Nasim where they discuss his cricketing journey, making his debut and getting dropped, loopholes in the selection policies, and how players are generalized and stereotyped in Pakistan's domestic system and much more.

Key highlights of the interview are:

Injury and Comeback: discusses his injury and the process of making a comeback to the Pakistan team.

Dressing Room Environment: Insights are provided into the Pakistan team's dressing room environment, addressing rumors and criticisms.

Selection Criteria: criteria for selection in the Pakistan cricket team are discussed, including the importance of fitness and performance.

Future Plans: talks about his future plans, including his aspirations and the importance of finishing his career on a high note.

Messages to Fans and Indian Team: A message was conveyed to the Pakistan team's fans and the Indian team regarding the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Watch the full interview here:

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Completely agree with Saad on the point that youngsters in Pakistan are not prioritizing the long format cricket and looking for shortcut to forge their way into the national side through PSL. This phenomenon is the main reason that instead of getting a sound technique player into the side we are recruiting random occasional sloggers.

 

[BouncerGuy]

PCB never gives fair chances to those who deserve it. Guys like usman khan got easy way into the team by playing psl but a guy like saad who has been grinding in domestics was not prioritized over bits and pieces player who play 1 good shot and people hype them on moon.

 

[FearlessRoar]

I understand what he is trying to say. He is right that we have good options in our domestic circuit that still need to be highlighted. Unfortunately, we have made PSL our selection criteria. Saad Nasim is a good option for us to take on the middle order in our Test squad after the retirement of Asad Shafiq and with Fawad Alam being dropped again. PCB should have given him a chance in the home series against Bangladesh.

 

[mominsaigol]

I remember this dude playing. Made a 77 in the 3 games he got. Was a solid batter for odi and t20.

Again another wasted talent.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I always thought, their was something to him as a batter & the fact he could field.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I always thought, their was something to him as a batter & the fact he could field.

Another waste of talent tale.

 

[RidiculousMan]

He could've fitted in the ODI side as a batting AR like Agha Salman. But not in T20s. Never saw him as a really good T20 player.

 

[zacattakk]

In all honesty he was a fairly mediocre player.

 

[moghul]

Whenever I saw him batting , didn't look to me even a good FC player.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Saad is the one victim of ignorance by PCB. It is nothing new in this system. Lots of players get ignored because they had no hype or cannot play no look shot or cannot be just league bullies or not from UAE.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Probably didn't stuck up to the captain and coach enough. This team would look so different if players were selected on merit instead of relationships

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Another waste of talent tale.

If a player with an average of 49.5 in ODIs can get dropped without any reason so we can imagine the standards of our cricketing system.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

If a player with an average of 49.5 in ODIs can get dropped without any reason so we can imagine the standards of our cricketing system.

And unfortunately we may not see him in the national team again owing to his age. Such a shame

 

[FearlessRoar]

Saad Nasim impresses with an 86-run knock for Lahore Whites against Hyderabad in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024, Group A, Round 2, Day 1.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Saad Nasim shined for his side, Eshaal Associates in the President's Trophy 2025, Round 2 Day 1

Skipper Saad Nasim (75, 81b, 9x4s) joined forces with a well-set Tayyab at 101-3 and collected 171 runs for the fourth-wicket stand.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Saad Nasim scored 40*(29) as captain for his side Lahore Whites in the Match 03 of National T20 Cup 2025 against Peshawar Region.