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

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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?

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