Ex-Cricketer Questions PCB Selection for Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test Series

Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanveer Ahmed has openly questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors after young wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori was picked for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh ahead of in-form Saad Baig.

Reacting on social media, Tanveer criticized the selection call and said domestic performances were being ignored despite strong numbers from players who had delivered throughout the season.

He pointed to Saad Baig’s run tally and argued that the youngster had done enough to earn a place in the squad. Tanveer said Saad had scored heavily across domestic competitions, yet was still left out of the Test setup.

He also raised doubts over Ghazi Ghori’s inclusion, questioning the basis of his selection and suggesting that one tournament should not outweigh consistent performances across the full domestic season.

Tanveer said players should be judged on sustained output instead of short-term rankings or isolated displays. He argued that Saad’s body of work across the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and President’s Trophy made a stronger case for selection.

Saad Baig has been one of the standout batters in domestic cricket this season. Playing for Karachi Blues in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26, he finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 1,000 runs in 10 matches at an average of 55.55, including four centuries and three half-centuries.

Across the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and President’s Trophy combined, Saad scored 1,400 runs in 17 matches, strengthening his case for national selection.

Ghazi Ghori, meanwhile, played only one match in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and scored 83 runs for Karachi Blues. He did, however, enjoy a productive President’s Trophy campaign for State Bank of Pakistan, where he made 531 runs in seven matches at an average of 48.27, including two centuries and one half-century.

Pakistan recently named Ghazi Ghori among four uncapped players in the squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh. The other new faces are Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt and Azan Awais.

Shan Masood will lead the side in the World Test Championship fixtures, with the first Test scheduled for Dhaka from May 8 to 12 and the second to be played in Sylhet from May 16 to 20.

The squad will gather in Karachi on April 27 for a training camp before leaving for Bangladesh on May 2.