Sadiq Mohammad slams 'ridiculous' Pakistan T20 squad shake-up
Sadiq Mohammad slams ‘ridiculous’ Pakistan T20 squad shake-up
KARACHI: Former Pakistan Test opener Sadiq Mohammad has criticised the selectors for axing senior players from the Pakistan T20 squad, calling the decision to drop Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Ali Agha ahead of the Sri Lanka series “ridiculous and immature.”
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Wednesday, Sadiq said Pakistan should not have made sweeping changes after losing a series or a tournament, and should instead have given experienced players the opportunity to recover and perform.
‘Winning and losing are part of the game’
“Winning and losing are part of the game,” Sadiq said. “It does not mean that if you have lost the previous series or tournament, you drop all your senior players.”
He questioned the thinking of the selectors and coaches, warning that such decisions were made without considering long-term consequences. He added that every major team had suffered defeats in the past, but the usual response was one or two changes while giving the team a chance to recover.
Sadiq insisted Babar should have been included in the squad for the Sri Lanka series. Pakistan, he said, needed technically sound batsmen who could build an innings and either set or chase a difficult target. An established batsman at the crease, he argued, should guide younger players, encourage strike rotation and discourage unnecessary risks.
Pakistan T20 squad’s real problem is batting technique
According to Sadiq, the biggest problem Pakistan is struggling with is batting. He said the coaches and selectors needed to work with the top five batsmen on mindset, discipline and shot selection.
His advice for T20 chases was straightforward: stay close to the required run rate, aim to have two set batsmen at the crease in the final three overs, and target eight to ten runs per over through boundaries mixed with singles and twos rather than swinging for sixes every ball. He blamed reckless shots by top-order batsmen for many lost matches, saying modern players seemed more interested in scoring 18 runs in an over than in seeing the innings through with a realistic chance of winning.
Backing for Razaullah, domestic reform call
Sadiq did back one selection call: keeping young pace bowler Razaullah in both formats. A player in form, he said, deserved a consistent run of at least two or three series.
He also urged the PCB to seriously restructure and properly schedule the President’s Trophy and the domestic one-day competition, arguing that a strong domestic structure would automatically strengthen the T20 side’s pool of technically sound players. Top players, he added, should be required to play at least five matches in each domestic competition to remain eligible for Test and ODI selection, keeping the best cricketers connected to domestic cricket.
Sri Lanka series starts Friday
Pakistan face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series starting on Friday, October 9, at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi. The series will be the first major test of the revamped squad, and the selectors’ gamble on youth will be judged on results.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Sadiq Mohammad criticise the Pakistan T20 squad selection?
He called the dropping of Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Salman Ali Agha a “ridiculous and immature decision,” saying teams should not make sweeping changes after one bad series and should back experienced players to recover.
Which senior players were dropped from the Pakistan T20 squad?
Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Ali Agha were left out of the squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka.
When does the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka T20I series start?
The three-match T20I series begins on Friday, October 9, at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi.
What domestic reforms did Sadiq Mohammad suggest?
He urged the PCB to restructure the President’s Trophy and the domestic one-day competition, and said top players should play at least five domestic matches in each format to stay eligible for Test and ODI selection.
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