Tanvir Ahmed drops bombshell on Imam-ul-Haq’s ODI future and gives his verdict on Pakistan’s Test squad for Bangladesh series

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Tanvir Ahmed and Pakistan team


Former Pakistani cricketer Tanvir Ahmed has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan’s national cricket structure over the lack of bowlers in domestic cricket. Recently, Pakistan announced its squad for the home Test series against Bangladesh.

There is only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, which is strange because the series will be played in the subcontinent, which is usually beneficial for the bowlers. While Abrar has performed well for Pakistan in the longer format, it also demonstrates the lack of spin bowlers in Pakistan on the domestic circuit.

Bowlers Noman Ali and Sajid Khan were in contention till the last Test series for Pakistan but have been dropped, which is a clear sign that Pakistan’s main attack in this series will be through fast bowlers.

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Tanvir Ahmed criticises Pakistan’s internal structure for lack of spinners

Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed has expressed his disappointment on social media and claimed that there are no international quality bowlers left in Pakistan’s domestic circuit. Tanvir lashed out at the national coaches and asked why no quality bowler has been groomed for so long.

“Ye ha hamari pakistan domestic cricket purey pakistan main spinner’s he khatam hogaye hain sirf test squad main ek spinner ha Abrar Ahmed kahan hain humarey domestic coaches jo abhi tak koi spinner’s tayar nahi kar sakey ya sirf baton par dehan rehta ha (This is the situation of our domestic cricket. Spin bowlers have disappeared in Pakistan cricket as there is only one spinner in the team in the form of Abrar Ahmed. Where are the domestic coaches who have not been able to groom a single spinner?),” Tanvir Ahmed posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Lack of fast bowlers is a long-standing story in Pakistan cricket. Ever since Yasir Shah lost his form, Pakistan has struggled to find a quality international bowler in the longest format of the game. Abrar Ahmed is the only bowler around whom the fast bowlers are likely to rotate in the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Tanvir Ahmed says Imam-ul-Haq will also be dropped from ODIs

Tanvir Ahmed did not stop there and even blamed opener Imam-ul-Haq for being in the Test squad. Imam-ul-Haq was one of Pakistan’s designated red-ball openers till the last Test series but was ruled out for the series against Bangladesh.

“Imam ul haq sahib apni ghaltiyon ki waja says Test team says quit Howey hain mujhe aesa lagta ha Imam ul haq ODI says bhi quit ho jaye gain (Imam-ul-Haq has been dropped from the Test team due to his own mistakes. I think he will be dropped from ODIs soon),” Tanvir posted on X.

Pakistan announces new vice-captain for Tests

Imam-ul-Haq scored just 94 runs in four Test innings at an average of 23.50 in Pakistan’s last Test series against Australia. The left-hander has shown promise but has not been able to be consistent enough in Test cricket.

Pakistan will be led by captain Shan Masood in the upcoming series against Bangladesh, which begins on August 21 in Rawalpindi. Saud Shakeel has been appointed as the vice-captain of the team.