‘It’s a joke: Faheem Ashraf aka Ben Stokes in Misbah's home team’

Pakistan’s former pacer Tanvir Ahmed, in a YouTube video on Friday, lashed out on the squad that was selected for the upcoming tour of England referring to it as the personal household team of the chief selector and head coach Misbahul Haq.

The 41-year-old was livid with the selection of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, whom he mockingly called the Ben Stokes of Pakistan, in the side despite the presence of better options.

“Misbah said that Wahab Riaz would be available for Tests. He has talked to Wahab and he is ready to play Tests. Does he think this is his personal team? If a player has said no, you are pestering him to play regardless. You are begging him to play. They are asking him to please play Tests for us and making a mockery of international cricket. If Wahab is not in the Test side would it destroy the team? What kind of a chief selector is this?” Tanvir said.

ALSO READ: Pakistan squad for England tour can cause an upset: Brad Hogg

“The players who have gotten the short end of the stick are all-rounders Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt along with fast-bowler Tabish Khan. When a team is selected it has all-rounders which we do not have. They did pick Ben Stokes which is our Faheem Ashraf. Look at his performances and averages as an all-rounder for Pakistan. He is back in the side. This is all because of connections. Those that don’t have these connections are left out. Butt and Yamin are two of the best all-rounders in domestic cricket," he added.

Although, Tanvir said that bringing back fast-bowler Sohail Khan to the side was the right decision.

“Where is Tabish Khan? Why is he not in the team? Can you not see his performances? Did Misbah come into the side because of his performances or connections? They said Sohail Khan was added because of his experience in England which was the right call. His performances there were great and he was removed from the side with claims that he couldn’t bowl in the third or second spells. The likes of Mohammad Abbas can’t bowl in the 140’s in their second or third spell either but that isn’t a problem,” he said.

The former pacer also stated that selecting veteran all-rounders Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik was proof of favouritism in the side.

“Look at their condition. You should remember that both Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik do not have a central contract. I said at the time that Misbah was going to play favourites and reward his friends in the future. I claimed that it was not possible that Misbah would not select them in the future. Misbah has now himself claimed that the duo will play in the World Cup. He has done this so that despite miserable performances in England they can still be added to the side. This shows you the favouritism in the side,” he said.

Tanvir also believes that the selectors were begging players to play cricket for the national side which is baffling.

“Misbah has assembled his personal household team. They are begging a player who has said that he does not want to play Test cricket. This is the Chief Selector of Pakistan cricket. Imagine how many more players they must be begging to play cricket. I am shocked that Asif Ali was not added to the squad,” he concluded.