(Source X)
Former Pakistan cricketer Tanveer Ahmed has ignited controversy by vocally criticizing the PCB’s decision to exclude Karachi-based players Abrar Ahmed and Mir Hamza from the Pakistan squad ahead of the two-Test series against Bangladesh at home.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently released Abrar and top-order batter Kamran Ghulam from the squad to give them a chance to gain match fitness before the second Test against Bangladesh, which is set to start in Rawalpindi on August 30.
Tanveer Ahmed blasts PCB for showing bias against players from Karachi.
Ghulam and Abrar are now set to play in the second practice match between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh ‘A’, with the expectation that they will rejoin the Pakistan Test squad before the second Test against Bangladesh.
In addition to Abrar and Ghulam, star seamer Aamer Jamal has been sent back to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore for further rehabilitation. Mohammad Ali was chosen over Mir Hamza for the first Test, which begins on August 21 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
In response to these decisions, Tanveer Ahmed has voiced significant frustration over Hamza’s exclusion from the Test squad, following Abrar’s earlier omission. He has accused the Pakistan team management of clear favoritism and argued that whenever a Karachi-based cricketer starts to make a mark in the national team, he is unfairly sidelined. Tanveer suggested that there may be someone within the selection committee who cannot accept rising talents from Karachi.
Tanveer Ahmed posted on X: “Mafi k sath 🙏🏻 pheleyey Abrar Ahmed ko team say nikala or ab Mir Hamza ko team say nikala kyn k ye log karachi k han karachi ka larka jab bhi team main jaga bananey lagta ha usko team say farigh kar diya jata ha kyn k kisi ko bardasht nahi hota🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 (Apologies first, Abrar Ahmed was dropped from the team, and now Mir Hamza has been removed too, just because they are from Karachi. Whenever a boy from Karachi starts making a place in the team, he is pushed out because some people can’t tolerate it.)”
Shan Masood explains the reasons behind Mir Hamza’s omission from the first Test.
Tanveer’s comments have intensified the debate over favoritism and fairness in team selection, keeping the issue in the spotlight at the PCB. He asserted that Karachi players have consistently been overlooked and marginalized, despite their evident talent and potential.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood defended the call to drop Hamza, as he stated, “We believe Mohammad Ali is well-suited for this role. He hits the deck hard, can move the ball in the air with the seam, and has that extra pace. It’s not about one bowler being better than another, but rather about who fits the conditions best.”
Pakistan’s playing XI for the first Test
Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, and Shaheen Shah Afridi
