Tanvir Ahmed Archives

Former pacer takes swipe at Babar Azam for crediting Sarfaraz

Former fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has taken a dig at Babar Azam for crediting Sarfaraz Ahmed on Pakistan’s triumph in the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025.

Congratulatory messages poured in after Pakistan outplayed arch-rivals India in the final by a hefty margin of 191 runs.

Among the senders were former and current cricketers, who praised the team and Sarfaraz Ahmed for delivering an outstanding performance.

Babar Azam, who is currently in Australia for the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, credited team mentor and manager Sarfaraz Ahmed for bringing the best out of the young players.

“Well done, boys! Lifting the trophy after a stellar campaign and dominating the final.

Big credit to Saifi Bhai, whose experience shaped this triumph. Keep the hunger going,” Babar Azam wrote on his X account.

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However, the congratulatory message did not sit well with Tanvir Ahmed, who has long an admirer of Babar Azam.

“No credit goes to [Sarfaraz Ahmed]. All of it goes to Shahid Anwar, Azhar Ali and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, as all of the hard work was done by them,” Tanvir replied to Babar’s post on X.

“I am disappointed that you gave all the credit to Sarfaraz,” he lamented.

For the unversed, Sarfaraz Ahmed was named the team mentor and manager ahead of the U19 Asia Cup 2025.

The glory added another trophy to Sarfaraz’s cabinet as the wicket-keeper batter has led Pakistan to three major titles against India.

He captained the national side to the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup glory in 2006, defeating arch-rivals India in the final, and later guided Pakistan to a historic ICC Men’s Champions Trophy triumph in 2017, where they thrashed India by 180 runs in the summit clash.

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Tanvir Ahmed questions Rizwan’s exclusion amid Haris’ struggles

Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has questioned the decision to sideline Mohammad Rizwan following the ongoing struggles of Mohammad Haris in the tri-nation T20I series.

Taking to the social media platform X, Tanvir expressed frustration over the team management’s selection policy after the defeat against Afghanistan.

“If Haris was going to play like this, then why was Mohammad Rizwan deliberately left out of the team?” he asked.

It’s worth noting that Mohammad Haris has endured a torrid run of form in recent months.

Since his century against Bangladesh in June, the wicketkeeper-batter has reached double figures only once in nine innings, a 15-run knock in the tri-series opener.

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His last nine T20I scores read: 4, 0, 5 (vs Bangladesh), 6, 4, 2 (vs West Indies), and 15, 1, 1 (vs UAE and Afghanistan). In total, he has managed just 38 runs across this stretch.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Rizwan, along with former skipper Babar Azam, has been out of Pakistan’s T20I setup since December 2024, when both last featured against South Africa. The duo has not been considered in selection plans since.

On the other hand, despite their recent defeat to Afghanistan, Pakistan remain at the top of the tri-series standings with four points from three matches.

Afghanistan is in second place, while the hosts, the UAE, are at the bottom without any wins. Pakistan’s next match will be against the UAE at the same venue on Thursday.

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Former pacer advises Babar, Rizwan to retire after T20I squad exclusion

Former pacer Tanvir Ahmed has advised the senior duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to consider retirement from International cricket amid selection snub for the Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 17-member squad that excluded Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s last T20I appearance came in December 2024 against South Africa.

Tanvir Ahmed criticized the decision, urging the duo to call time on their careers.

“My request to Babar Azam and Rizwan is that if you feel your respect is not intact, then consider retiring from international cricket. We have examples of Virat Kohli in front of us. Babar and Rizwan, respect is in your hands,” he said.

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The pacer questioned Fakhar Zaman’s inclusion in the team, who suffered an injury during the West Indies tour.

“Was Fakhar Zaman forced into the team, or was he included to prevent Babar Azam from being selected? How did Fakhar Zaman get in?” he questioned.

For the unversed, Salman Ali Agha will lead the side with experienced players such as Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf included in the squad.

Additionally, young talents Saim Ayub, Khushdil Shah, and Hussain Talat are also part of the squad.

The team will be in action in the tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE, which is scheduled to run from August 29 to September 7.

The series will be held entirely at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and will see each team face the others twice, culminating in the final on September 7.

The series will serve as a crucial tune-up for the Asia Cup 2025, also to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28 in the T20 format.

READ: ‘Best team selected’: Abdul Razzaq praises Pakistan Tri-Series, Asia Cup squad

Former Pakistan pacer blasts Mike Hesson after series loss to Bangladesh

Former Pakistan Test pacer Tanvir Ahmed has sharply criticized national team head coach Mike Hesson after the defeat in the second T20I against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s T20I campaign in Bangladesh went from bad to worse as the visitors slumped to an eight-run defeat in the second T20I in Dhaka, conceding the three-match series 2-0 with a game still to play.

Tanvir Ahmed took to social media following the loss and took aim at Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, who joined the team in May before the home series against Bangladesh.

“Mike Hesson is a third-class coach who doesn’t even know how to select a proper playing XI,” Tanvir posted on X (formerly Twitter). “He doesn’t even know how to pick a team.”

Bangladesh sealed a historic series win over Pakistan after holding their nerve in a low-scoring thriller at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Batting first, the hosts were bowled out for 133 in 19.5 overs, Jaker Ali standing tall with a gritty 55 off 48 balls, which featured five sixes and a four.

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Pakistan’s bowling unit put in a tidy shift, with Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, and Abbas Afridi picking up two wickets each.

In reply, Pakistan’s batting collapsed under pressure. At one point, they were tottering at 47 for 7 before Faheem Ashraf staged a late fightback.

The all-rounder smashed 51 off just 32 balls, including four boundaries and as many sixes, to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

But with no real support from the other end, Pakistan were eventually bundled out for 125 in 19.2 overs.

The third and final T20I will be played on July 24 at the same venue, with Pakistan now fighting to avoid a whitewash.

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Former pacer questions Naseem Shah’s place in Pakistan white-ball team

Former Test pacer Tanvir Ahmed has come down hard on the selection committee for picking Naseem Shah in the national squad despite his lacklustre performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

In a recent interview on a local sports platform, Tanvir didn’t mince his words when scrutinising Naseem’s selection for the T20I series against Bangladesh, a series in which the pacer didn’t even play a single game.

“If you picked Naseem Shah for the Bangladesh series and didn’t play him, then why was he picked?” Tanvir asked.

“His performance in the PSL was completely poor. Just look at his fitness level, his run-up while running, and his energy. He’s not even putting in any effort. He has injury issues, so how did he make it into the team?”

Tanvir Ahmed also hinted at potential favouritism, suggesting Naseem’s association with Islamabad United may have influenced the decision-makers.

“That’s why people are talking — saying it’s Islamabad United’s influence,” he said.

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“When your head coach and other selected players are also linked to the same franchise, then questions will naturally be raised.”

He further pointed out how consistent performers like Mir Hamza and Mohammad Abbas Afridi were overlooked, despite being in top form.

“On merit, Naseem Shah doesn’t deserve to be in the team right now,” Tanvir Ahmed asserted.

“In the PSL, Mir Hamza was performing really well, so why wasn’t he selected? Abbas Afridi was ignored too, and only brought in when Wasim Jr got injured.”

For the unversed, Naseem Shah had a modest PSL 10 campaign, managing just nine wickets in 10 matches with an economy rate of 9.30.

READ: Jason Gillespie comments on Mike Hesson’s appointment as Pakistan head coach

‘Pakistan will beat India,’ says former Pakistan pacer after Sri Lanka loss

Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed made a major assertion that Pakistan can beat India after the Men in Blue succumbed to a 2-0 ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka.

India, on Wednesday, succumbed to their first ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka in 27 years as the home side won the three-match series 2-0.

Sri Lanka came from behind in the ODI series opener to force a tie before Jeffrey Vandersay’s 6/33 gave them a resounding 32-run victory in the second fixture.

The home side completely outplayed India in the third ODI, banking on the visitors’ woes against their disciplined spin-laden bowling attack.

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Meanwhile, former pacer Tanvir Ahmed, reacting to India’s historic defeat against Sri Lanka, highlighted their struggle against spin bowling attack.

“You see what happens to the Indian batting lineup from here on in the future. The bowling lineup might work it out but the batting lineup will find it difficult. All the new batters in this Indian team at the moment, barring Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, they cannot carry forward this batting lineup in the future,” said Tanvid.

“They might score runs in their home conditions on flat pitches but on pitches where the ball turns seams and swings this batting lineup of India does not have the life to bat in those conditions. They could have scored runs in the first match, that ended in a time, could have scored runs in the second and third ODI as well,” he added.

Tanvir Ahmed then went on to claim that Pakistan could beat India easily in the absence of their key players — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.

“First look into your own performances and then have suggestions on Pakistan. If Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah do not play against Pakistan, Pakistan will beat India hands down,” he concluded.

READ: Junaid Khan terms India’s bowling “zero” without Jasprit Bumrah

‘Don’t know why Sarfaraz is tolerating such attitude by PCB’ Tanvir Ahmed

KARACHI: Former Test cricketer Tanvir Ahmed, known for his blunt remarks, lambasted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their attitude towards the former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed following the recently-announced Central Contracts 2022-23.

Tanvir, in a video statement post his meeting with PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja questioned Sarfaraz’s inclusion into the D Category of the Central Contracts and expressed his reservations on the attitude of the cricket board towards the former captain.

“I don’t understand why Sarfaraz is silent,” questioned Tanvir. “A captain who has won the Champions Trophy. A player who has several achievements, I don’t why he is tolerating such an attitude from PCB,” he said.

“I would have told PCB what they truly deserved if I had won the Champions Trophy and had to deal with such an attitude. However, I believe that some players, despite their lack of respect, still want to be on the team,” he further opined.

The former pacer further criticized the PCB for offering left-handed batter Fawad Alam, B Category in the central contracts and termed it injustice with the southpaw.

“They have facilitated all of their friends in full capacity. Otherwise, Fawad should have been in the A category of red-ball format contracts. He only plays Test format and look at his performance, it’s injustice to give him the contract in the B category,” Tanvir stated.

Tanvir further opined on Ramiz’s meeting with the Karachi-based cricketers and called it meaningless as according to him, the latter’s position is uncertain.

“The meeting was meaningless,” Tanvir stated. “Chairman came to meet us at a time when things are already uncertain for him. But, I made the most of this opportunity and put Karachi’s cricket issues in front of him. I was very blunt and straight forward unlike others who were present in the meeting,” he shared.

The cricketer-turned-analyst further refuted the claims of him being offered a role in PCB by Ramiz in the meeting and claimed that he will never be a part of the cricket board.

“Whoever said this to you or spread it on social media, misquoted facts. In fact, Ramiz Bhai in general asked everybody in the meeting ‘will you be available if any post is offered to you in the PCB?'” Tanvir revealed.

“And, I was surprised to see the response. Even, 70-years-old former cricketers raised their hands to show interest in the job in PCB,” he added.

“But, I can assure you one thing, you will never see Tanvir Ahmed in any PCB post ever. Because, I know nobody allows you to work with honesty there,” he concluded.

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