The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recently announced squad for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh has come under intense scrutiny from fans and cricket analysts.
Several selections have sparked debate, with questions raised over merit and domestic performance.
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One of the most discussed names is Shamyl Hussain.
یہ لیں ذیشان بھائی یہ پڑا ہے میرٹ۔۔ اسکور اور اسٹرائیک ریٹ دونوں میں تیسرے نمبر پر ہیں طلعت حُسین صاحب کے صاحبزادہ صاحب۔ اب پہلے دوسرے نمبر والا نہیں تیسرے والا میرٹ پر ہے تو آپ درست کہہ رہے ہوں گے۔ https://t.co/dSKJafMKLY pic.twitter.com/vubtj6k11K
— Asad Ali Toor (@AsadAToor) March 5, 2026
Critics argue that his selection may have been influenced by his father, a prominent journalist, despite his respectable domestic record.
Shamyl has scored 899 runs in red-ball cricket this season and accumulated 556 runs in 13 List A matches at an average of 46.33, with a strike rate of 100.18, including two centuries and three half-centuries.
Based on recent stats:
— Fun times (@FunTimes7676) March 5, 2026
1️⃣ Shahzaib Khan
264 Runs | Avg 52.80 | HS 106
2️⃣ Shamyl Hussain
151 Runs | Avg 30.20 | HS 54
3️⃣ Azan Awais
147 Runs | Avg 36.75 | HS 63
Despite these numbers, Shamyl Hussain has been selected in the squad while players with stronger performances ignored pic.twitter.com/NE8eSuYrCi
Fans, however, feel that performers like Shazaib Khan and Azan Awais, who had more dominant domestic seasons, were overlooked.
Shahzaib Khan deserves the place first instead of Shamyl Hussain ..that’s the reason for our Cricket downfall
— Jahanzaib Khan 🇵🇸 (@iamjanzi) March 5, 2026
Sifarish culture First pic.twitter.com/RrpljH4IJk
READ: PCB condemns alleged harassment report against Pakistani player
Another name raising eyebrows is Ghazi Ghori, who has a modest List A average of 20.60 but still made the national squad.
Jis mulk mai Ghazi Ghori select ho jai aur Rohail Nazir na ho. us per mera khayal mazeed baat karne ke gunjaish khatam ho jati hai. pic.twitter.com/Rnn9gfVDKF
— Ahmer Najeeb Satti (@AhmerNajeeb) March 4, 2026
Analysts have speculated that his selection may be linked to his association with Islamabad United, where Mike Hesson, now Pakistan’s head coach, previously coached.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batters Haseebullah Khan and Rohail Nazir, who average 45.20 and 33.80 in List A cricket respectively, were not chosen.
Asif bhai, Haseebullah played a match-winning knock for Quetta at PCB HQ in the GSL just two weeks ago.
— Syed Ali Imran (@syedaliimran) March 5, 2026
Even if we assume Haseebullah is injured, handing Ghazi Ghori a maiden ODI call-up still makes no sense, especially ahead of players like Rohail Nazir and Mohammad Haris. https://t.co/rAh8sNgjPn pic.twitter.com/ATZE1xSQas
Saad Masood, the rising star who helped Pakistan win the Rising Stars Asia Cup and Hong Kong Sixes, has also faced criticism.
Despite playing only three List A matches, he has been included in the squad, while experienced domestic performers like Arafat Minhas and Mehran Mumtaz, with 20 and 48 List A matches respectively, are still waiting for a Pakistan cap in ODIs.
In Pakistan cricket history cricketers were never selected based on list A matches. For example another player Saad Masood also selected in Pak ODI squad and guess what, he only played 3 list A matches.
— Talha Ashraf (@ashraftalha45) March 5, 2026
Shamyl is a talented batsman, look at his stats.
Analysts have further noted that players such as Kamran Ghulam, Usman Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Hasan Nawaz, who have consistently performed in domestic cricket, should have been given opportunities instead of some players with limited domestic experience.
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The selection has sparked debate on social media and cricket forums, with fans demanding transparency and merit-based selections to reward domestic performers.
