Former Pakistan Test opener Sadiq Mohammad has criticised the decision to leave senior players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Salman Ali Agha out of the T20 squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sadiq said Pakistan should not respond to a disappointing series or tournament by making sweeping changes to the team. Instead, he argued that experienced players should be given an opportunity to recover and improve their performances.
“Winning and losing are part of the game,” Sadiq said.
He described the decision to drop several senior players as “ridiculous and immature” and questioned the approach of the selectors and coaching staff.
According to Sadiq, teams around the world have experienced defeats but generally respond by making limited changes rather than removing several established players at once.
“Usually, they make one or two changes and give the team an opportunity to recover and perform,” he said.
Sadiq backs Babar’s inclusion
Sadiq said Babar should have been included in Pakistan’s T20 squad, arguing that the team needs technically sound batsmen capable of building an innings and handling difficult run chases.
He stressed the importance of patience, discipline and shot selection, particularly among the top-order batsmen.
Sadiq also said experienced batsmen have an important role to play in guiding younger players at the crease. He urged senior players to help less experienced teammates understand match situations, rotate the strike and avoid unnecessary risks.
He identified batting as Pakistan’s biggest concern and called on selectors and coaches to work more closely with the top five batsmen.
“The coaches and selectors need to communicate clearly with the team, especially the top five batsmen. They need to work on their mindset, discipline, shot selection, and understanding of how to win matches,” he said.
Advice for Pakistan’s T20 batting
Sadiq said Pakistan’s approach during T20 run chases also needed improvement.
He suggested that batsmen should focus on staying close to the required run rate rather than repeatedly attempting high-risk shots. Ideally, he said, two established batsmen should remain at the crease during the final three overs.
He also urged players to combine boundary-hitting with regular singles and twos instead of constantly targeting sixes.
Sadiq argued that reckless batting has contributed to Pakistan losing matches and said better coaching and game awareness were needed to help players chase targets more intelligently.
Shaheen Afridi likely to return to first-class cricket for KRL
Sadiq backs Razaullah
Sadiq supported the decision to give young pace sensation Razaullah opportunities in both formats.
He said players who are in form should be given a consistent run over at least two or three series instead of being frequently moved in and out of the team.
Call for domestic cricket reforms
Sadiq also called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to review the structure and scheduling of the President’s Trophy and domestic one-day competition.
He said a stronger domestic system in both formats would help produce a larger pool of technically sound and mentally prepared players for the national T20 side.
He further suggested that Pakistan’s leading players should be required to play at least five matches in each domestic competition to remain eligible for selection in the Test and ODI teams.
According to Sadiq, such a policy would keep leading players connected with domestic cricket while strengthening the foundation of Pakistan’s cricket system.
Pakistan are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series beginning Friday at Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi.
