[EXCLUSIVE] "Pakistan's Champions Trophy selection is a joke!": Tanvir Ahmed

[The Bald Eagle]

In our latest exclusive interview, former Pakistan cricketer and well-known cricket analyst Tanveer Ahmed shares his bold and unfiltered views on Pakistan Champions Trophy squad and the lack of a proper system in place. With years of experience in domestic and international cricket, Tanveer offers a deep dive into the flaws holding Pakistan back.


Key topics include:

• Why Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad lacks balance and key players.
• The questionable selection of Faheem Ashraf and others—merit or favoritism?
• The absence of genuine openers and the impact on Pakistan’s batting lineup.
• Why Pakistan’s spin attack is underprepared for major tournaments?
• The constant changes in PCB leadership and its effects on team stability.
• How India and Australia’s structured approach gives them a major edge.
• Babar Azam’s form struggles and Pakistan’s overreliance on key players.
• Is the selection committee really making independent decisions?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Has Tanvir every agreed with any decision or supported anything?

The squad could have been better but is it really a joke when 95% of these players have featured in the past few months for Pakistan?


Faheem is a suprise but this is Pakistan. It's not as if this type of thing doesn't happen.

 

[moghul]

Wow, what an enjoyable interview , one of the very few Pakistani former test cricketers who speak from the heart and , not trying to please anyone or looking for a job in PCB. His passion for Pakistan cricket is very obvious in his talk.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Tanvir has always been vocal about such things happening in Pakistan. people might like him too much but things he said makes sense.

 

[Kianig89]

CT squad is a joke perfectly summed up

 

[The Bald Eagle]

CT squad is a joke perfectly summed up

It's true only prayers and miracles can save this squad now

 

[zamana]

The team selection defies logic. There appears to be a dearth of appropriate players in the current team . We recently won the ODI series against Aus and SA but are failing to find the right combination in the selected team. How can we participate in a tournament in Pakistan with just one spinner. The fast bowling was ineffective. I fear that they will decline during the course of the tournament. They were not threatening and could not contain NZ. I think they should add Nauman Ali or Sufian Muqeem to the squad. Faheem Ashraf is redundant. It is inconceivable not to have a second and third opener. This defies logic! Who is behind this illogical selection? I would much rather lose with young and talented players than tried and tested failures. There are some very talented young openers including Azan Awais and Shazaib. ODI is a very specialized format and T20 players cannot perform in ODI. Test players with proper technique are better suited. We could not even bat the entire 50 overs. Irfan Niazi and Aamer Jamal are better allrounders. How about Khwaja Nafay in the middle order? Could not be worse than the alternative. Best wishes.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Faheem , Usman , Saud , Khusdil come from nowhere

They have won a historic series in Australia and whitewashed SA and now they select these 4 to do what ..?

The board , selector , captain and coach all of them should be bribed to select such squad for an ICC tournament in their home country after acheiveing such a historic feat in Aus and SA

Sufiyan Muqeem I rmb took 4 wickets in his last ODI , what kinda msg re u sending u foolish coach by selecting Khusdil and Faheem Ashraf

Babar was a mainstay at no.3 for Pak just like Kohli , he is already not in form and they push him to open in ODIs which he has not done before

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Faheem , Saud, Khusdil and Usman from nowhere

The board chairman , selector, coach and captain the whole unit should be bribed or don’t want Pakistan to win , should’ve be the goal behind selecting such squad after achieving such historic feat in Aus and SA (whitewashed ) and select such squad for an ICC tournament at home.

Irfan niazi dropped and he took many half chances and converted them into catches. Catches win matches as they say

Sufyan Muqeem I rmb he took 4 wickets in his last ODI that too in pace and bouncy SA pitch , now dropped for Faheem and Khusdil , like seriously , can’t see a foolish coach who would do such blunder

Fakhar a straight swap for injured Saim should have been the only change form the squad that whitewashed SA

Even if Abdullah is in poor form , these are times that poor form of a quality player or future prospect should be accompanied when the team is doing well. Pakistan cricket and their senses omg cannot say them together.

Indeed this selection is a JOKE!!! He is absolutely correct.

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

Seems like someone was tasked to unsettle the squad and make it look like a joke.
Mission accomplished.
I don't see pakistan winning a single match from here .

 

[salman24]

Biggest problem is Pakistan cannot afford a long tail which they have. Need a proper allrounder at 8.

Another spinner would be good I think the rest will work itself out

 

[BouncerGuy]

Yes, it is a joke. No doubt about the fact that this squad has some joke selections. Tanvir is spitting facts here whether people like it or not.

 

[pratiktc]

To be fair selectors are getting pilloried for 3 selections viz.

Batting AR (seam/spin) = Khusdil
Backup Keeper batter = Usman Khan
Bowling AR (seam/spin) = Faheem

Granted these aren't great choices but then really who could they pick?

In an ideal world if everyone was in form and fit Shadab/Ifthikar, muhammad Haris and Nawaz would be in these roles, but these guys were tried in last 2-3 icc events and have failed.

 

[ads101]

To be fair selectors are getting pilloried for 3 selections viz.

Batting AR (seam/spin) = Khusdil
Backup Keeper batter = Usman Khan
Bowling AR (seam/spin) = Faheem

Granted these aren't great choices but then really who could they pick?

In an ideal world if everyone was in form and fit Shadab/Ifthikar, muhammad Haris and Nawaz would be in these roles, but these guys were tried in last 2-3 icc events and have failed.

None of those selections were non understandable. I know none are overwhelming, but factoring in domestic performance and international experience for a tournament they made sense. I know we’d rather try out new exciting talent but it’s a tournament and there’s no time.

The sole full time spinner is the biggest worry. But we’ve seen they will probably go with the spin allrounder instead of the pace one. I’d love an international experienced spinner in our line up but we just don’t have one with Shadab out of form with the ball.

 

[Asif321]

Nihayati ghatiya kisim ki selection hui hai

 

[Mainul]

Has Tanvir every agreed with any decision or supported anything?

The squad could have been better but is it really a joke when 95% of these players have featured in the past few months for Pakistan?


Faheem is a suprise but this is Pakistan. It's not as if this type of thing doesn't happen.

Was fahim because he performed well in bpl?

 

[Mainul]

Has Tanvir every agreed with any decision or supported anything?

The squad could have been better but is it really a joke when 95% of these players have featured in the past few months for Pakistan?


Faheem is a suprise but this is Pakistan. It's not as if this type of thing doesn't happen.

Was Fahim picked only because he performed well in BPL?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Was Fahim picked only because he performed well in BPL?

He was a political selection.

 

[aukhan]

I never took Tanvir seriously but I cant disagree with the statement that the selection has been Atrocious.

Too many average passenegrs:

1) Faheem Ashraf
2) M Hasnain
3) Khushdil Shah
4) Lord Usman Khan

Aquib should be publicly flogged if we dont make it to the semi-final.

 

[W63L35]

Two matches vs NZ in tri series and today's match against the same opposition proves Tanvir Ahmed's point!
Unfortunately, it is going to get worse from here.....

 

[BouncerGuy]

People now have a full idea that what Tanvir said was right... Joke squad it was that will be out of the tournament soon.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

he was right... with such pathetic combination winning 1 match would be more than a miracle

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I never took Tanvir seriously but I cant disagree with the statement that the selection has been Atrocious.

Too many average passenegrs:

1) Faheem Ashraf
2) M Hasnain
3) Khushdil Shah
4) Lord Usman Khan

Aquib should be publicly flogged if we dont make it to the semi-final.

Get him publicly flogged ... It was writing on the wall to everyone that this Squad had no chance even after the tri-nation series he couldnt change the squad... Such arrogant stubborn b*****ns should be kept away forever..

 

[ask_analyse_act]

From the day the squad was announced everyone was convinced that it is a joke and this team.squad selected would 100% fail to reach semis. It was a writing on the wall, but why would PCB and Aaqib do this to themselves like seriously for an ICC tournament at home, seriously doubt that they are bribed to select such squad and drop players from a winning unit ( not just winning 2-1 , whitewashed 3-0) SA played their first string team..

 

[Mercurial]

It wasn’t a joke of a squad if you look at the options you’ve got in domestic cricket. The talent in domestic cricket is not good enough to replace all the players in the current team. There are no domestic players that can replace Babar, Hasan, Shadab, Rizwan, and Shaheen. You’ve got to stick with these 5 in all formats for at least the next 2 ODI World Cups. However, the biggest issue was the approach. Rizwan really needs to stop becoming Misbah 2.0. He has the tools to be the next Ponting. He should play aggressively and show it in the last remaining game against Bangladesh.

 

[Rana]

Tanvir Ahmed’s constant defence of Babar Azam is suspicious

 

[Rana]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1894652976418983963

 

[RidiculousMan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1894652976418983963

This is true. A lot of people's show have gotten popularity because of Babar. They portray him negatively and the neighbors feed on it.

 

[Rana]

This is true. A lot of people's show have gotten popularity because of Babar. They portray him negatively and the neighbors feed on it.

So Shoaib Akhtar is a bhikari who’s livelihood is running on criticising Babar?

 

[RidiculousMan]

So Shoaib Akhtar is a bhikari who’s livelihood is running on criticising Babar?

Shoaib doesn't run hsi livelihood on Babar. It's the YouTubers and other social media influencers who bash Babar. Have been doing so for a few years now.