Tanveer Ahmed Archives

Former pacer slams Mohammad Haris over remarks on Babar Azam’s T20 approach

Former Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed has launched a scathing attack on wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris for his comments regarding the approach of Babar Azam in T20 cricket.

A few days earlier, Haris shared his thoughts about Babar Azam’s batting during an interview on a YouTube channel.

Haris was asked whether Babar needs to change his batting style in the shortest format, to which the 24-year-old agreed.

“Fast or slow,” was the interviewer’s follow-up question to which Mohammad Haris replied with a chuckle.

“Yes, he should play fast,” Haris replied in a light-hearted manner.

Now, Tanveer Ahmed has criticized Haris for his remarks, quoting his interview in a tweet on his social media handle.

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“Mohammad Haris, how much bigger a player are you to say that Babar Azam needs to improve his strike rate? Brother, first build your own value, then say something about a world-class player,” Tanveer Ahmed wrote on X.

For context, Mohammad Haris is included in the Pakistan T20I squad for the triangular series and Asia Cup 2025, whereas Babar Azam last played in the shorter format in December 2024 against South Africa.

Babar was axed from the Pakistan squad alongside Mohammad Rizwan amid criticism surrounding their strike rate in T20 cricket.

Notably, the duo stands as the most successful pair in T20Is, having amassed 3,300 runs at an average of 46.47 over 73 innings from 2019 to 2024.

Pakistan Squad for Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025:

Pakistan: Salman Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem

READ: Two Pakistan legends named in Lockie Ferguson’s all-time Top Five Test Pacers

Former Pakistan pacer questions Faheem Ashraf’s selection in Champions Trophy squad

Former Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed questioned the inclusion of Faheem Ashraf in the national team for the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Tanveer Ahmed while appearing on a TV show stated that the all-rounder was included in the squad despite his poor performance in his last 20 One Day Internationals (ODIs).

“He has just nine wickets in the last 20 innings, a batting average of only 10 in his last 34 innings and still he is included in Pakistan’s squad,” the former pacer said.

However, his co-host then mentioned that the allrounder’s performance in List A cricket in 2023-24 has played a pivotal role in his selection for the Champions Trophy.

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According to the co-host, the allrounder scored 454 runs in 11 innings at an average of 44 and took 19 wickets in 14 innings in List A cricket.

On the contrary, Tanveer Ahmed was of the view that Faheem Ashraf’s stats in international cricket mattered more than his List A record.

The former pacer also highlighted that opening batter Imam ul Haq and allrounder Aamer Jamal were not included in the squad despite better performances in domestic cricket.

Earlier, several former players including legendary cricketer Wasim Akram expressed their reservations about the inclusion of Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah in the Champions Trophy squad.

It is worth noting here that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on January 31 announced the Pakistan squad for the upcoming tri-nation series with New Zealand and South Africa and the Champions Trophy 2025.

Opening batter Fakhar Zaman made a return to the 15-member Pakistan squad alongside all-rounders Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf and batter Saud Shakeel.

Pakistan Squad for Tri-Nation Series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (wk)(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel, Naseem Shah, Tayyab Tahir, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Hasnain, Usman Khan, Haris Rauf.

READ: Sri Lanka star batter announces retirement amid Australia Test series

Former pacer raises questions over Pakistan’s squad for Bangladesh Tests

Former pace bowler Tanveer Ahmed has raised questions over the selection of Pakistan’s Test squad for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) men’s national selection committee announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting on 21 August.

PCB also named a star-studded 15-member squad for the first four-day match, featuring Test team members Saud Shakeel, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub and Sarfaraz Ahmed.

Tanveer Ahmed took to his official X account and criticized the selection of both the squad.

“Whether it’s the Pakistan team or some of the Shaheens’ players, the selection has been wrong. It’s beyond understanding and seems to have been done through coercion,” Tanveer posted.

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He also raised the question over Abrar Ahmed being the sole spinner in Pakistan’s Test squad. He also called out coaches in domestic cricket for not being able to develop quality spin bowlers.

“Is this our domestic cricket? spinners have disappeared throughout Pakistan, and there is only one spinner in the Test squad, Abrar Ahmed. Where are our domestic coaches who still haven’t managed to develop any spinners, or are they only focused on words?” he added.

The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of 17 August and is expected to train in the same afternoon.

Meanwhile, the home team’s training camp will commence at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 August and will be supervised by red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.

The first Test will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 21-25 August, while the second Test will be held from 30 August-3 September in Karachi.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed reacts to Saud Shakeel’s appointment as vice-captain

Former Pakistan cricketer calls Harbhajan Singh “hypocrite”

Former Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed, known for his blunt remarks, called out former India spinner Harbhajan Singh for his “hypocrisy” towards Pakistan.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pakistan from February to March, however, India’s participation in the tournament is uncertain as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seeks the government’s approval to visit the country.

Reports emerged in Indian media, citing a source from the BCCI, that the Indian team will not be visiting Pakistan for the upcoming ICC event.

Further reports claimed that the board has formally proposed Dubai and Sri Lanka as potential venues for hosting India’s matches.

Meanwhile Singh, in a recent interview with IANS, backed the BCCI’s decision to not send the Indian team to Pakistan for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, citing the “safety concern”.

“Why should the Indian team go to Pakistan? There is a safety concern in Pakistan. The situation is such that incidents occur almost daily,” Singh said during an interview with IANS.

“It’s not safe for the team to go there. The BCCI’s stance is absolutely correct—nothing is more important than the safety of our players. I fully support the BCCI’s decision,” he added.

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In response, Tanveer Ahmed took to his X, formerly Twitter, and lashed out at Harbhajan Singh over his stance regarding India’s participation in Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.

“Hey Harbhajan Singh, you hypocrite! If you say that India shouldn’t go to Pakistan, then why do you meet with Pakistani players? We also know what kind of hypocrites are in your country,” Tanvir wrote on X.

Remember, India refused to travel to Pakistan to participate in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023. As a result, the continental event was held in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka stepping in as a co-host.

It is worth noting that India has not travelled to Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008 due to the long-standing political tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

In contrast, Pakistan has made four trips to India in the last 16 years. Their most recent visit was last year for the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.

READ: Ravi Shastri calls Gautam Gambhir’s appointment ‘refreshing’

Former Pakistan pacer calls Gautam Gambhir ‘parchi’ case

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Tanveer Ahmed has not minced his words in criticizing the newly appointed head coach of India Gautam Gambhir, labelling his appointment as a ‘Parchi’ case.

Former opening batter Gambhir, earlier this month, was confirmed as the new India head coach, preceding Rahul Dravid, who stepped down after overseeing the team’s perfect T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

However, the former Pakistan pacer thinks that former India batter VVS Laxman should have been appointed as the head coach. Laxman is currently the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and has served as India’s stand-in coach during Dravid’s tenure.

Tanveer Ahmed shared his opinion on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, calling Gautam Gambhir a ‘parchi.’

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“VVS Laxman should have become the head coach of the Indian team because he has been with the India B team as coach for a long time. It seems as if Gautam Gambhir’s appointment is a ‘Parchi’ case,” he posted.

For the unversed, Gambhir recently served as the Kolkata Knight Riders’ mentor in the recent edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Prior to that, Gambhir had mentored Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2022 and 2023 and helped them reach the playoffs in both editions.

Gautam Gambhir played a pivotal role in India’s success in the 2007 World T20 and ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2011, top-scoring in the finals of both tournaments.

READ: Babar Azam moves down in ICC Test Batting Rankings

‘Karachi players face injustice’ Tanveer unhappy with ODI squad

KARACHI: Former Test cricketer Tanveer Ahmed, known for his blunt remarks, lambasted the chief selector Mohammad Wasim for doing injustice to Karachi-based players.

Tanveer, in a video message, shared on his official Twitter handle expressed dissent at the recently-announced ODI squad for Netherlands’ tour and called out the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja to take notice of the sideline of Karachi players.

“Mr Ramiz Raja, if you remember, I told you that Karachi players face injustice. See, I wasn’t wrong. They are facing it again,” Tanveer stated.

The former pacer then went on to specifically mention the avoidance of left-handed middle-order batter Saud Shakeel, who was dropped from the Netherlands ODI squad after being left out of the Playing XIs in the home ODI series against the West Indies.

“Saud Shakeel is facing injustice now as he has been dropped from the national squad. He came out of the injury like several other players. Those players did not even have any performance in the domestic, yet they were picked,” Tanveer asserted.

“Why Saud is facing such behaviour. A lot of dear ones got chances after coming back from injury, then why not Saud?” Tanveer questioned Ramiz.

The cricketer-turned-analyst then referred to the chief selector as a “Yes Man,” expressing his intention to seek redress for the alleged injustice.

“Ramiz Raja Sahab, let your ‘Yes Man’ chief selector Wasim sit with me and I will ask him about this selection. On what basis, he is doing injustice to Karachi players,” he concluded.

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