"Is it because they bat in the same position where Babar bats?"- Ahmed Shehzad slams Pakistan's selection for 1st England Test 2024
Former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad blasted the selectors for excluding batting all-rounder Kamran Ghulam from the squad for the first Test against England. Pakistan's three-Test series against England starts with the opener in Multan on October 7.
Ghulam was part of the Pakistan squad for the recent home series against Bangladesh. Pacer Mohammad Ali was also excluded after being present during the Bangladesh series, which Pakistan lost 2-0.
While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that the duo remains in their plans, Shehzad took issue with selector Mohammad Yousuf for their exclusions.
In a video shared on his X handle, Shehzad said:
"Kamran Ghulam has been ignored as Mohammad Yousuf didn’t make him a part of the 15-member squad. Khurram Shahzad is injured, while Aamer Jamal and Shaheen Shah Afridi aren’t fully fit. Despite that, you did not pick Mohammad Ali. It’s hard to understand. How will you justify not picking Kamran and Sahibzada Farhan in the squad? What sin did they commit? Is it because they bat in the same position where Babar bats?"
"When Yousuf was the coach, he left everything on two to three players. Yousuf is the selector and this is the team he is selecting. Give me one logic why Kamran Ghulam was left out?" he added.
Ghulam has been in impressive form in the ongoing Champions One Day Cup, scoring 248 runs at an average of 49.60 and a strike rate of 100 in five games.
While he has played the lone ODI, the 28-year-old is yet to feature in a Test match for Pakistan.
Pakistan look to break five-Test losing streak in England series
Pakistan hit rock bottom when they lost a Test for the first time against Bangladesh and lost the home series 2-0 earlier this month. Before that, they suffered a 3-0 hammering in Australia to start the year.
Incidentally, all five losses have come after Shan Masood took over as Test captain before the Australian tour. Pakistan also suffered a 0-3 whitewash the last time England toured the country in 2022.
Ben Stokes' Test team have been in excellent form, winning five of their six Tests in the home summer, including series wins over the West Indies and Sri Lanka.
The first two Tests of the upcoming three-match series will be played at Multan and the action will shift to Rawalpindi for the final Test.