In an exclusive interview with PakPassion, former Pakistan pace bowler and TV pundit Tanvir Ahmed discusses the current state of Pakistan cricket. The Kuwait-born star dissects toxic media culture, player targeting, and T20I selections post-PSL X.

By Saj Sadiq (June 16th, 2025)

Summary of topics discussed:

• Multan Sultans' PSL Performance: Tanvir Ahmed expresses surprise at Multan Sultans' poor performance in the PSL, highlighting that despite strong individual performances from players like Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas, the team struggled. He attributes this to the team releasing key players and the unfortunate injury of Ihsanullah, who was a significant factor in their previous success.
• Babar Azam's Captaincy and Form: The discussion shifts to Babar Azam's captaincy with Peshawar Zalmi and his recent dip in form. Tanvir suggests that Babar should consider stepping down from captaincy in all formats, including the PSL, to play freely and regain his form. He criticizes the Pakistani media and former cricketers for targeting Babar, arguing that their constant criticism mentally disturbs players and contributes to prolonged slumps in form.
• Comparison to English Cricket Culture: Tanvir draws a comparison with English cricket, noting that in England, players like Jos Buttler, despite struggling with captaincy and form, are supported and not subjected to the same harsh criticism as in Pakistan. He emphasizes that in a good system, senior players are supported to improve rather than being discarded.
• Impact of Social Media on Players: He discusses the negative impact of social media, especially after COVID-19, on Pakistani sportsmen, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, making it difficult for them to navigate public scrutiny.
• Critique of Pakistani Cricket System and Media: Tanvir criticizes the tendency in Pakistan to immediately elevate a captain who performs well in one format to lead in all formats, citing the example of Salman Ali Agha. He points out the over-celebration of victories against weaker teams like Bangladesh and the fickle nature of fan and media support, where players like Rizwan can go from being hailed as great captains to being discarded without clear reasons.
• Future of Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen in T20I Cricket: Tanvir argues that it would be a "great injustice" to end the T20I careers of these three players, especially given their past performances and rankings. He defends their strike rates, stating that the expectation of a 170-180 strike rate for middle-order batsmen is unrealistic. He also highlights Chris Gayle's T20 international stats to show that even "specialist" T20 players don't always have extraordinary international records, further supporting the value of Babar and Rizwan's consistent performances.
• Mike Hesson's Coaching Approach and Player Selections: Tanvir questions the selection decisions made under the new head coach, Mike Hesson, particularly regarding the inclusion of an unfit Naseem Shah over in-form players like Mir Hamza, Abbas Afridi (initially), and Khurram Shahzad. He expresses skepticism about the significant positive changes Hesson's appointment might bring and emphasizes the need for the team to perform well against stronger opponents before claiming true improvement.
• Salman Ali Agha as Test Captain: The video concludes with a discussion about rumors of Salman Ali Agha replacing Shan Masood as Test captain. Tanvir does not believe it's a good decision to burden Salman with all formats of captaincy immediately. He suggests that if a change is needed in Test captaincy, Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan would be suitable candidates.

Watch the full interview at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYZJwCN5cbY