Pakistan’s veteran batter Ahmed Shehzad has expressed outrage over the exclusion of domestic stalwart Kamran Ghulam from the team for the first Test against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-man squad for the series opener in Multan on October 7, but Ghulam was conspicuously absent.
Ghulam has been in prolific form in the domestic circuit, amassing seven centuries in 13 first-class matches for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) since September 2023. Five of those centuries have come this year alone. Despite his impressive performances, Ghulam was overlooked for the Bangladesh Test series earlier this month and has now been dropped from the squad for the England series.
Shehzad, who has played 13 Tests for Pakistan, slammed chief selector Mohammad Yousuf for Ghulam’s exclusion. He questioned Yousuf’s logic, suggesting that Ghulam’s omission may be due to the presence of Babar Azam, who also bats at number three.
“Kamran Ghulam has been ignored because Mohammad Yousuf didn’t make him a part of the 15-member squad,” Shehzad said in a video posted on social media. “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?”
Shehzad also criticized the PCB’s selection policy, which he believes is based on fear of failure. “If Saim and Abdullah can be given chances, then why not Kamran and Mohammad Ali?” he asked. “This is a mindless strategy by the Pakistan Cricket Board.”
Ghulam, 28, has played just one game for Pakistan, an ODI against New Zealand last year, where he did not bat or bowl. However, he 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.
Despite his recent performances, Ghulam’s exclusion from the Test squad has raised questions about the PCB’s selection criteria. Shehzad’s criticism highlights the growing frustration among some players and fans over the board’s decision-making process.
