Shadab Khan returns as Pakistan name T20I squad for Sri Lanka series

[CricVet]

Shadab selection is the reason why people get accused of being Parchi.

His performance prior to getting declared as injured, was unsatisfactory being a T20 bowler. His batting was OKish. After playing a few BB games, no board would have selected him based on a few decent performancees - BUT only in Pakistan. His selection over Muqeem is a typical PCB parchi culture.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

I think the shoulder injuries were huge for Shadab and we have even seen him change his action to accommodate those shoulder injuries and it badly affected his bowling. In recent years, it just seemed like he couldn't bowl a good googly anymore. The line/length issues to some degrees exist with any leg spinner but that googly used to be a big weapon for him earlier in his career when he was bowling well. Shoulder injuries can be brutal and we have seen Naseem suffer from the same fate as Shadab. I truly hope surgery has fixed his shoulder injuries.

Based on some of the recent BBL clips, we are starting to see some resemblance of the same googly he once had. If he is truly healthy and back to what he used to be, he at least deserves a look to see if he can prove himself and make it to the WC squad. At the end of the day, there is literally no other leg spinning allrounder Pakistan have and if Shadab can be that for you, it's worth giving a look. Only other option they barely have for him is Saad Masood and he has been MIA since emerging Asia Cup.

Worst case Shadab gets a look, does poorly and you know for sure he won't be on the WC squad. But the upside is you get a true difference maker who nearly won player of tournament in 22' WC and if he is back to that level, you at least need to give it a chance.

Fully agree, and in any case the proof will be in his performances in the Sri Lanka bilaterals.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

While I appreciate the honesty regarding the contradiction in your argument, I disagree that the post-WC period is 'lower pressure.' Usually, after a major tournament, is when the PCB is at it's most volatile as coaching staff changes, captaincy shifts, and 'clean-up' operations are the norm.

Maaz might actually find more stability debuting now under a set leadership group than in the chaotic rebuilding phase that inevitably follows a World Cup. If he’s good enough, he’s old enough.

Giving him the Aus series actually gives him a 'license to fail' before the big stage. If he holds his own against the competent Aussies, he walks into that World Cup feeling ten feet tall. That kind of confidence is worth more than a year of 'protected' development.

If we wait, we aren't just protecting him; we are potentially leaving a hole in our WC lineup that could be the difference between a semi-final and an early exit. If he has the talent, the best time to blood him is when the stakes are clear and the current management is still fully invested in his success.

@KingOfPakBreakfast

So you agree?

 

[Obaidd]

Shady is a centrally contracted player in category B (highest for active players). It was always on the cards that he’d return to the squad once he regains fitness.

Interesting to read that folks still see him as a bowler first. I think his bowling is a gone case, I won’t ask him to bowl 4 overs in an imp match. I’d like to see him tried at 5 with more batting responsibility and lesser bowling duties. He used to be a gun fielder and is an experienced head on the field. Ticks quite a few boxes just don’t trust him to bowl full quota of overs. Give him a more defined role with a focus on batting and I think he’s going to come good.

On the other hand, if he doesn’t have a fixed batting number and he’s also expected to bowl the full quota then we know that’s not going to bring the best out of him.

 

[zahid01]

He should have been allowed to finish his stint in BBL.

Something in the air why just him being recalled from BBL wait and see we could have a new captain for the world cup

 

[Bewal Express]

Something in the air why just him being recalled from BBL wait and see we could have a new captain for the world cup

Not at this stage. Its too close to the WC. They did it with SSA and it was a disaster

 

[Usman Chadda]

Shady is a centrally contracted player in category B (highest for active players). It was always on the cards that he’d return to the squad once he regains fitness.

Interesting to read that folks still see him as a bowler first. I think his bowling is a gone case, I won’t ask him to bowl 4 overs in an imp match. I’d like to see him tried at 5 with more batting responsibility and lesser bowling duties. He used to be a gun fielder and is an experienced head on the field. Ticks quite a few boxes just don’t trust him to bowl full quota of overs. Give him a more defined role with a focus on batting and I think he’s going to come good.

On the other hand, if he doesn’t have a fixed batting number and he’s also expected to bowl the full quota then we know that’s not going to bring the best out of him.

Shadab is not bowling his full quota in the current bowling attack. Hell, Nawaz doesn't get to do that and he is considered a superior bowler to Shadab.

 

[zahid01]

Not at this stage. Its too close to the WC. They did it with SSA and it was a disaster

We are taking about pakistan anything is possible

 

[Pakhs]

He wont be any different to what he has been. Fairly average cricketer. But average cricketers can sometime work in T20s.

 

[hks222]

On what basis is he selected? What terrible selection.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

@KingOfPakBreakfast

So you agree?

Yep, I’m with you guys now

 

[Obaidd]

Is Agha going to continue to hide in the batting order or now occupying a certain spot? That’s going to be key imo. Floating lineups are fine once in a while but overdone by Agha-Hesson duo.

 

[Obaidd]

15-member squad:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq

I tried coming up with a preliminary xi

Saim
Farhan
Fakhar
Agha
Shady
Keeper
Samad
Nawaz
Faheem
Fast Bowler
Abrar

Surely Agha, Shady, Nawaz and Saim can’t all play in the same lineup and batting looks weak too.

 

[BouncerGuy]

On what basis is he selected? What terrible selection.

On the same basis Salman was made our T20 captain.... Pathetic mentality...

 

[pratiktc]

Why not go with Sahibzada Farhan as keeper? This will let Pak pick Hasaan Nawaz as middle overs hitter in WC squad. Granted he is having horrible run but in world cups you need hard hitters in middle order. He might play the flash pan inns that can sway a big match

Farhan (k) + Fakhar + Saim
Shadab + Agha + Hassan Nawaz
Md Nawaz + Faheem
Shaheen + Salman Mirza + Abrar

I believe Shadab as a bowler is finished at intl level. He should now be treated as a batter only.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Why not go with Sahibzada Farhan as keeper? This will let Pak pick Hasaan Nawaz as middle overs hitter in WC squad. Granted he is having horrible run but in world cups you need hard hitters in middle order. He might play the flash pan inns that can sway a big match

Farhan (k) + Fakhar + Saim
Shadab + Agha + Hassan Nawaz
Md Nawaz + Faheem
Shaheen + Salman Mirza + Abrar

I believe Shadab as a bowler is finished at intl level. He should now be treated as a batter only.

Pakistan’s main strength is still its bowling, and this strength gets diluted with faulty keeping. Especially on the low pitches of SL you need a keeper who takes his catches and is alert on stumpings and runouts. Sahibzada’s keeping is…let’s just say not his strongest cricketing skill. It’s why I’m not entirely sold on Usman keeping for us either… It’s why they'll also try Khwaja Nafay, again a part time keeper.

It’s why we needed Mo Haris to work for us so badly, in that he would have atleast settled the keeper conundrum.

If one of the two U19 lads make an impression in the PSL (Abdul Qadir/Hamza Zahoor), I can see them getting a go at the t20 role post WC.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Pakistan’s main strength is still its bowling, and this strength gets diluted with faulty keeping. Especially on the low pitches of SL you need a keeper who takes his catches and is alert on stumpings and runouts. Sahibzada’s keeping is…let’s just say not his strongest cricketing skill. It’s why I’m not entirely sold on Usman keeping for us either… It’s why they'll also try Khwaja Nafay, again a part time keeper.

It’s why we needed Mo Haris to work for us so badly, in that he would have atleast settled the keeper conundrum.

If one of the two U19 lads make an impression in the PSL (Abdul Qadir/Hamza Zahoor), I can see them getting a go at the t20 role post WC.

Indeed. Haris did well at no. 3. Whole batting is out of play just because Salman Agha has to play and the fact that Saim will never get dropped because he's a bowler now.

 

[CricVet]

Is Agha going to continue to hide in the batting order or now occupying a certain spot? That’s going to be key imo. Floating lineups are fine once in a while but overdone by Agha-Hesson duo.

100%. Way too much musical chairs with the batting order.

Getting back to Shadab. I believe that the musical chairs will continue and they will slot Shadab into middle order - perhaps at 3 or 4 to replace Babar with someone who has experience. It may work in SL. That will provide extra bowling option (4th spinner with Abrar, Saim, and Salman).

In my personal view, it should not be happening. That spot belongs to a more aggressive bat like Hasan Nawaz.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Why not go with Sahibzada Farhan as keeper? This will let Pak pick Hasaan Nawaz as middle overs hitter in WC squad. Granted he is having horrible run but in world cups you need hard hitters in middle order. He might play the flash pan inns that can sway a big match

Farhan (k) + Fakhar + Saim
Shadab + Agha + Hassan Nawaz
Md Nawaz + Faheem
Shaheen + Salman Mirza + Abrar

I believe Shadab as a bowler is finished at intl level. He should now be treated as a batter only.

He's not good enough to play as a batter alone.

 

[Obaidd]

100%. Way too much musical chairs with the batting order.

Getting back to Shadab. I believe that the musical chairs will continue and they will slot Shadab into middle order - perhaps at 3 or 4 to replace Babar with someone who has experience. It may work in SL. That will provide extra bowling option (4th spinner with Abrar, Saim, and Salman).

Shady is Agha’s like for like replacement.
Abrar, M Nawaz and Saim are the better spin bowling options. Out of these 5 players, maximum 4 should feature in an xi but having them all of them in the squad is fine.

In my personal view, it should not be happening. That spot belongs to a more aggressive bat like Hasan Nawaz.

Hassan Nawaz I agree was actually the best bet on number 4, but certainly won’t be back in for the WC. He’s been moved around the order and now discarded. This is why I’d say play folks on their preferred numbers or don’t play them at all.

 

[Obaidd]

Why not go with Sahibzada Farhan as keeper? This will let Pak pick Hasaan Nawaz as middle overs hitter in WC squad. Granted he is having horrible run but in world cups you need hard hitters in middle order. He might play the flash pan inns that can sway a big match

Farhan (k) + Fakhar + Saim
Shadab + Agha + Hassan Nawaz
Md Nawaz + Faheem
Shaheen + Salman Mirza + Abrar

I believe Shadab as a bowler is finished at intl level. He should now be treated as a batter only.

Does Farhan need to keep wickets to keep his place in the team? I think not. It’s probably unfair to force him to keep wickets. I’d rather play a specialist keeper at 6-7 then to ask the one positive prospect in Pak to lose focus by taking additional responsibility. Especially if he doesn’t want it.

 

[CricVet]

Shady is Agha’s like for like replacement.
Abrar, M Nawaz and Saim are the better spin bowling options. Out of these 5 players, maximum 4 should feature in an xi but having them all of them in the squad is fine.


Hassan Nawaz I agree was actually the best bet on number 4, but certainly won’t be back in for the WC. He’s been moved around the order and now discarded. This is why I’d say play folks on their preferred numbers or don’t play them at all.

Well,Shadab can replace Salman, but he can't in this WC. The only other option is Babar which is highly unlikely knowing PCB.

The reality is, both Shadab and Babar could not just walk into the squad based on their recent performances. Neither can Salman in T20, but again, it is just a moot point.

 

[basitmian]

I hope Shadab parchi gets injured soon as well.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

He is not an all rounder. He is a tailender spinner and not a very good one.

 

[pakistani pride]

Shadab strikes at 140, which funnily enough is one of the best T20I strike-rates for Pakistan ever. So he is good enough to play even as a batsman. Pakistan fans should take a good long hard look at their T20 team before pointing fingers at Shadab. You need all-round players like him in white-ball. Even if he is off-color with the ball he adds value with the bat and in the field. He has been playing in the BBL since returning from injury and has been performing with both bat and ball.

He is a nothing player, lazy. Should stick to T10.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He is a nothing player, lazy. Should stick to T10.

How is he lazy? He is probably one of the fittest players in the entire team.

I'm not saying he is a great player or anything but given how pathetic this T20 team is, he doesn't look so bad by comparison

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He is not an all rounder. He is a tailender spinner and not a very good one.

He has a higher batting strike-rate than anyone else in the team. His batting average is also higher than/comparable to certain players who claim to be middle-order/top-order batsmen.

 

[BouncerGuy]

How bad is the state of Pakistan cricket that we are selecting minnow spinner instead of regular spinners who have proved thier worth all over the world...

SHadab has no credibility to get a free ride back in... Even his current performance proves it.

 

[Rana]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007639743962681467

 

[Rana]

How bad is the state of Pakistan cricket that we are selecting minnow spinner instead of regular spinners who have proved thier worth all over the world...

SHadab has no credibility to get a free ride back in... Even his current performance proves it.

You have no ground to stand on when you advocated and pushed for the return of Babar!

 

[BouncerGuy]

You have no ground to stand on when you advocated and pushed for the return of Babar!

You have no ground to support a guy whose idol is Ahmed Shahzad .

 

[Rana]

You have no ground to support a guy whose idol is Ahmed Shahzad .

????

The guy whose idol is Ahmed Shahzad? Sahibzada Farhan?? Pakistan’s leading domestic and International run scorer in T20s?? The guy who hit 100 T20 sixes in 2025??

I have no ground to support him??

 

[BouncerGuy]

????

The guy whose idol is Ahmed Shahzad? Sahibzada Farhan?? Pakistan’s leading domestic and International run scorer in T20s?? The guy who hit 100 T20 sixes in 2025??

I have no ground to support him??

talk about shdab.. not 133 strike rate guy

 

[Rana]

talk about shdab.. not 133 strike rate guy

Yeah I am talking about Shadab and your campaign against him. If you want to sound credible, then you can’t have double standards the way you did for Babar.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Yeah I am talking about Shadab and your campaign against him. If you want to sound credible, then you can’t have double standards the way you did for Babar.

show me his performance since his comeback.. even in leagues, he is failing... what do you want me to say???

 

[Rana]

show me his performance since his comeback.. even in leagues, he is failing... what do you want me to say???

You didn’t show us the performances of Babar which warranted a comeback.

Rehnde bhai. You have no ground to stand on in this fight. You should just put a blind eye over it and not question anyone else’s selection. Just worry about your guy.

 

[BouncerGuy]

You didn’t show us the performances of Babar which warranted a comeback.

Rehnde bhai. You have no ground to stand on in this fight. You should just put a blind eye over it and not question anyone else’s selection. Just worry about your guy.

Babar has 2 50s recently that were the only times his team won.... SIMPLE

 

[Rana]

Babar has 2 50s recently that were the only times his team won.... SIMPLE

Lage raho bhai

Allah ko jawaab dena hai. Humain nahi

 

[BouncerGuy]

Lage raho bhai

Allah ko jawaab dena hai. Humain nahi

Talk about Shadab Bro.... show me his performance now... come on... don't run

 

[Rana]

Talk about Shadab Bro.... show me his performance now... come on... don't run

His performance is as good as Babar’s to warrant a return. You can’t talk like Babar is in some Abhishek form lol

 

[Kianig89]

Abrar UTariq Muqeem all merit a place as specialist spinner
As spin all rounders , Saim & Nawaz are already ahead
Do we need Shadab as specialist batsman will he bat in top 5 then. As mentioned earlier PCb will select an unbalanced squad

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007639743962681467

Some jokes write themselves..

 

[Ball Blazer]

Shadab Khan struck in the 1st T20I of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka, dismissing Kusal Mendis (14 off 15) LBW and Dhananjaya de Silva (10 off 10) caught by Usman Khan.