World T20: No room for experiments in Pakistan squad, says Shaharyar

E-Paper | June 09, 2026

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan slammed the fitness levels of Pakistan's limited- overs squad but cautioned the team management against too many 'experiments' in the Twenty20 side with World Championship in India just four months away.

Khan, who was speaking to the media on Thursday amid reports of divisions within the Pakistan camp, clarified that all 'stake holders were on the same track' and team selections were not based on personal preferences of the captains.

Also read: ‘Merit being ignored in team selection’

“Please don’t believe the rumours. I have full faith in the selection committee and their decisions. We must focus on the real reasons for our defeats which are falling fitness levels of our players,” Khan told reporters outside the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Khan also stressed the need for 'mental alertness on the field' in a reference to several comical run-outs that the Pakistan batsmen were involved in during the England series.

Khan was quick in backing embattled T20 captain Shahid Afridi when asked about the inconsistencies in team selection and England's 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan in the recently concluded series.

“All decisions that a captain takes on and off the field are purely based on cricketing reasons and sometimes they do not come off. That is the nature of cricket. There is no grouping or any such thing in the team.”

“We cannot chop and change the team too much with the World T20 around the corner. The time for experiments is up.”

The PCB chief, however, admitted that there were concerns over the return of Mohammad Amir in the Pakistan team and the issue had created some division within the ranks.

“There are slight concerns over Amir's return to the side and as far as I know, the subject has been discussed in the dressing room. But we have told Amir that if and when he comes back, he will have to make sure there are no disciplinary issues.”

On Wednesday, Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis described defeat in the T20 series against England as a “huge eye opener” for his team whose “poor and ordinary” performance needed proper analysis.

Pakistan were blanked 3-0 by England who won the third and final game in Sharjah in a thrilling Super Over finish on Monday -- leaving Waqar to ponder his side's progress just months before the World Twenty20 in India.

Pakistan won the preceding three-Test series 2-0 but lost the four-match one-day 3-1 with the limited-overs performances highlighting the team's serious lack fitness.

Waqar pointed out fitness as the key problem in an interview on Wednesday and stressed on the same point in the Thursday press conference alongside Khan.

“I'm thoroughly disappointed at the nature of our defeats but in T20s one moment can change the course of the game. But where we were found wanting were our fitness levels.”

The former captain said the major reason for the Test team's success was its consistency and experience and called for patience with the ODI and T20 side.

Waqar also moved to rubbish reports of rifts between him and T20 captain Afridi.

“There is no truth to such claims.”

Key points of the Shaharyar-Waqar press conference

Shaharyar Khan:

Time for experiments in the T20 side is up
Players must dramatically improve fitness levels
There are no divisions within the team
Mohammad Amir's return a bone of contention but the bowler is being considered for selection
Final decision on India series to be taken by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Bids for PSL teams successful

Waqar Younis:

Patience needed with ODI and T20 sides
Fitness a major concern
We will need to experiment with new players before the World T20
Team comes first. It doesn't matter if the player is Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad or Umar Akmal, the team will be altered with the sole purpose of winning
Mohammad Amir has served his punishment and if he keeps performing, he will be considered for selection

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Alien

Dec 03, 2015 04:38pm

Biggest Problem in our Cricket is Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan .......... we should get rid of him ........... then we can win world cup............

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Pakistan Zindabad

Dec 03, 2015 04:42pm

Every thing is sensible But Amir's part. When you are star. Once fallen never seen again.

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sammy

Dec 03, 2015 04:44pm

Mr Chairman, we have to experiment, otherwise with the current line-up Pakistan is going to come back home from the world cup real fast!

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natey

Dec 03, 2015 04:52pm

after they get married the wives give them good food....thats why they becoming fat..this not professional sportsperson way of life...u have to go gym eeryday...eat protein n trainer recommended food..u cannot eat daily pakistani food....thats not the way to play sports..look at professional sportsperson overseas..they have strict diet and gym sessions...pak bangladesh srilankan are worst...indian players do take gym session alot..

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javid

Dec 03, 2015 04:55pm

Amir should come back only if T20 captain is comfortable and will back him on field. There would be problems when he comes back so there should be someone yo tackle those. He deserves a chance.

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Indian

Dec 03, 2015 05:04pm

I would suggest give more time to newcomers if he is good player. If people would cry then new comers would be under more pressure.

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PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Dec 03, 2015 05:05pm

He meant...Dear Pakistani cricket lovers. Get ready for another bunch of humiliating defeats in T20 WC much alike ODI WC.

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Balaji Ramachandran

Dec 03, 2015 05:14pm

wasnt PCB going to boycott the WT20 if India didnt play pak in a bilateral series . What happened to that . or is money more important

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Aman

Dec 03, 2015 05:23pm

@Pakistan Zindabad in which book of rules it appears once fallen never seen again even after serving ban ?

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Taimoor Khan

Dec 03, 2015 05:23pm

Shouldnt you be pulling out of T20 world cup in India because of security concerns? This man is deliberately putting the lives and well being of Pakistani players in danger for his and his accomplice Mr Sethi personal gains.

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Ebrahim

Dec 03, 2015 05:41pm

@Alien Agreed - unless PCB is cleansed with people like Sheharyar and his lieutenants there would be no improvement. PCB should have proper and dedicated professionals to have good selection Committee who are to be given free hands to have performing cricketers if we think of any chances for the next World Cup. PARCHI and favouritism should have no consideration.

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M.Saeed

Dec 03, 2015 05:51pm

T20 defeat from England team was seen in a continuously improving field record, with the last match finishing with a tie taken to super-over chance result. It clearly shows lack of training in the T20 format.

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naz

Dec 03, 2015 05:55pm

@Pakistan Zindabad - what are you trying to say?? Let you and all the others blocking Amir's return, stand up against the corrupt rulers who keep running our country. If we manage to oust them due to their "corrupt and unpunished" past.....then i'm all in favour of keep a totally white/clean chit!

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Mani

Dec 03, 2015 06:01pm

Khan says time for experiments are up while Younis says we will still experiment ... in the same press conference ?! Don't have to look far to see what's wrong with Pakistan cricket.

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Jawad

Dec 03, 2015 06:11pm

Bring mohd Aamir, Baber Azam,Haris sohail and imad wasim back

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Sarah

Dec 03, 2015 06:17pm

Biggest problem for you and Pakistan team is that they lack common sense to select right team for right format.Why select same failing player again and again? Why Amir performing in BPL and not playing for Pakistan given there is no natural born prodigy in fast bowling like him in modern day cricket.Other's learn to bowl in cricket,he is natural born bowler.Between defeat and win Pakistan has to choose Immad Wasim and Amir,otherwise we will have to stop playing ODI and T20 altogether.Result will not change without these two players in team.

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Arslan

Dec 03, 2015 06:23pm

Older one gets, more rigid the mind becomes. This is the problem with SK. Need to bring highly competent mature (but not old and rigid) cricketing minds to the top of PCB.

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Sarah

Dec 03, 2015 06:36pm

@Jawad You have the right answer what PCB Selectors are paid for and cannot think like you?

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Hangman

Dec 03, 2015 06:54pm

The fittest person in cricket history is Misbah. Another fittest person is Younis K. Both are not part of T20. The team needs a penetrating bowler to win. There is only one bowler who have the abilities to penetrate the opposition is Amir. All those opposing Amir's return are in-secured people. They need psychological treatment and a reminder that they themselves are not just clean as they are trying to tell us. Amir may not be criminal but those who are opposing his return may be. That is why they are so in-secured.

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Sam

Dec 03, 2015 06:56pm

@natey Problem is 99% of Pak players are not athletes. Not sure if its due to lack of interest or facilities. Turning someone into an athlete requires alot of hard work and if you are already a Pro then you wont go back to correct basics after that. Thats is the unfortunate state of Pakistan in general. "Khalifaism"

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Hangman

Dec 03, 2015 07:02pm

@Balaji Ramachandran We sure want to boycott if it is staged in India. We will love to hear from PCB that Pakistan will not play in India. That will make my day.What money does check with IPL and their corruptions. The Indian corruption have penetrated in ICC to0.

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ishrat salim

Dec 03, 2015 07:03pm

Unless domestic cricket is played on regular basis along with on the field training with special emphasis on improving fielding & fitness, we will never improve. Cricket or any game today has become so scientific & technically advanced that unless our players are educated enough to grasp techniques & the finer points in the game, the players will never understand how to respond effectively. So, effectively, it is not only fitness problem but low education, hence, low understanding, low discipline, low co-ordination, hence, no consistency, LOW RESULT.

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fahd

Dec 03, 2015 07:04pm

PCB should realize that there is no better bowler then Amir in the world today.

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Zafar Ahmed

Dec 03, 2015 07:26pm

@Alien What about Najam Sethi and he should too go as he got nothing to do with cricket.

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KPK

Dec 03, 2015 07:28pm

Bottom line: remove every one who opposes amirs entry.

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Dec 03, 2015 07:29pm

So the PCB chief says 'Time for experimentation up' Waqar however has another plan ' We will need to experiment with new players before the World T20' For the love of God Waqar bhai, take your experimentation to the tombaktu and let a team of 11 play their own game.

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kash

Dec 03, 2015 07:34pm

Well Umar Akmal and Mohammed Amir layed and batted together today at bpl

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KPK

Dec 03, 2015 07:41pm

Handle PCB to kpk government and congrats on t20 world cup win in advance.

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Strange

Dec 03, 2015 07:56pm

what if fitness will not be improved? how players who are soughed as unfit were part of the team in the first place? too many questions from your own words Shaharyar. It seems you are clueless chairman. Why don't you just quit and let some one more able to work at your place? Non-performers are resisting Amir because he will eat their place.

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shazad

Dec 03, 2015 07:58pm

Shaharyar is an incompetent manager. His job as chairman is lying to press and cover up the nepotism, corruption, incompetency, mismanagement and misconduct of blue-eye players, mangers, coaches and selectors. These people do not think that Pakistan cricket team belongs to Pakistan and they are entrust with power and position to look after the interest of Pakistan. They think that they got power and position as right and as long as they are running the office, they should enrich themselves and promote/oblige those near them.

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M.Saeed

Dec 03, 2015 08:07pm

@naz : Aamir was a raw mind and was fed by his leader (Captain) to do a fix for hefty buck. Now, who does not like a quick big buck? It takes a real man to resist the temptation and Aamir was just a raw mind of a juvenile to get carried away by the lust. Now he has learnt his lesson the hardest way and all must let him prove his learning. Barricading him would do much more damage than any good. Remember this is how the dejected and grossly neglected youth not given equal opportunities, get frustrated and easily enticed to become terrorists.

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My name is Luka

Dec 03, 2015 08:19pm

Mohammad Amir has served his punishment and if he keeps performing, he will be considered for selection finally some words of wisdom. Please rehabilitate following greats Inzamam Sikander Bakht Ramiz Raja Mohammad Yousuf

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Junaid

Dec 03, 2015 08:24pm

I agree with Shehryar's conclusion that team has major issue with fitness. In ODI & T20s player must be able to give 110% for the whole 8 hour game. Our fittest players are Afridi, Misbah . Why don't we see the same in younger players? Instead of arguing over the rumors , we must concentrate on the real issue , fitness. Players must know it is their bread and butter to remain fit. Also, fitness is not about playing cricket only, but a life style.

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Spellbinder

Dec 03, 2015 08:35pm

Mr. Shaharyar Khan should stop interfering in selection matters. His job is the select selectors and coaches on merit which he has not done. The PCB management give chance to yes men, that's why Rashid Latif cannot be selected as selector as he demands PCB to get rid of tainted players.

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Strange

Dec 03, 2015 08:47pm

Najam Sethi and Shaharyar has destroyed Pakistan Cricket and taking it to more downhill. Najam Sethi's favourite PPP was busy in their own gimmicks and all the Punjab police was appointed to their private functions when Srilankan team was attacked in Lahore. There was no police around that area and terrorists escaped without any problem right in the heart of Lahore. Who was made responsible ? no one.

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Shahid

Dec 03, 2015 08:50pm

Poor performances do not have anything to do with bad selection or doing experiments. With the exception of one or two, these are our best players. Umar Akmal is one of the very few match winning batsmen and must be played at 4 as it is now about 2 years that all fans have been demanding this. He is not a slogger and is being unduely misused to bat when very few overs are left and asking rate is over 12. Afridi must bat at 3. Pakistan's main problems are two: (1) When a wicket falls, they play about two overs in the longer version mod (2) Middle overs being under utilized. As we don't have buttlers, Morgans and Polards down the order, we must score bulk of the runs in the middle overs. As it is now, even if the target is 120, our batsmen will stretch it to the last 2 overs needing 17 runs. To prove my point, in the second match we scored only 17 runs in 5 middle overs (5th to 9th). Mohammad Amir must be played in PSL and then in the WC if he proves his game.

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Salma Shahid

Dec 03, 2015 08:53pm

I wish, Aamir could develop in to a hard hitting batsman.

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aman

Dec 03, 2015 09:28pm

I love cricket. Plz you resign .what are we are we seeing nowadays why and who this waqar is the other haroon rasheed.. Bring such as javed miyandad. Shoaib akhtar. Muhammad Yousuf. The slumber squad, is due to slumber heads.

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Dost

Dec 03, 2015 09:29pm

Remove Afridi...he lack maturity. He is just an entertainer and gets out when neede.

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zahoor khan

Dec 03, 2015 09:31pm

Backing embattled T20 captain Shahid Afridi when asked about the inconsistencies in team selection and England's 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan in the recently concluded series. sorry Mr Sharyar you can not get result with Afridi, Waqar T20 WC-2016 we will loose you have reshaped and overhaul team with coach and captain both r not able to win Cups.

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RAZA ULLAH

Dec 03, 2015 11:13pm

I have never written comments on Pak cricket before but more I read about it the more I want to write. Everybody know everything from Shaharyar to wicket keeper is bad in Pak cricket. We always blame the coach, chairman and PCB for losing. I believe, the biggest culprits for losing are players. They have very small IQ, ego bigger than K2, unfit, selfish and happy with infighting. How can such players win anything in ODI and T20. In nutshell, players do not know the 2 words TEAM SPIRIT. Trouble makers should be gonzo for ever. Finally, I must say I thought Shaharyar was an intelligent and fair person. It is high time stop sucking up to India.

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Saeed Masood

Dec 03, 2015 11:33pm

If Mr. Shaharyar Khan has the confidence that means the same team and same results from now on...Fitness is the issue Afridi scores in BSL and his team fails for his own country...Good Good Good...The chairman and his gang is not ready to learn lesson from mistakes...God save Pakistan cricket...

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Ash20

Dec 04, 2015 12:16am

Good to know that Pakistan is participating in the World T20 in India.

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Inti

Dec 04, 2015 12:21am

The only experiment required is to remove, the chairman, coaches and unfit players. It's not rocket science two par teams on the field ultimately the fittest team will win. Dont care if its a month to go before a major tournament no room for non performers and the unfit players this is an absolute minimum requirement.

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Rogers Evans

Dec 04, 2015 12:55am

Mr Chairman, please, replace Waqar with Mohsin Khan, if you want team to perform well in WC T-20 , otherwise see writngs on the wall.

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Cynic

Dec 04, 2015 01:38am

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Em Moosa

Dec 04, 2015 01:47am

First get rid of Afridi. He is a non sensible and irresponsible cricketer. He does not know even today how to plan at a right time. He should be replaced by some sensible captain who knows to lead from the front. When there was no need Afridi came down as opener in the super over instead of Shoaib Malik or Sarfaraz and when there was time he came down at number 6.

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usher

Dec 04, 2015 01:57am

Amir's attitude is quite outrageous in IPL. Looks like he hasn't learned his lesson. No doubt he is a very talented bowler but he still needs to improve his temper to represent Pakistan on international level.

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Dr faizan

Dec 04, 2015 02:09am

Experiments or wrong decisions after wrong decisions?

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naeem

Dec 04, 2015 03:20am

@Pakistan Zindabad the only sensible statement is actually the possible return of Amir - which planet are you living on? Have you seen the state of our fast bowling??

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Zia

Dec 04, 2015 04:24am

Right time to go for Shehrayr, Waqar and Afridi.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 04, 2015 04:49am

What a serious joke?

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Dec 04, 2015 09:09am

@Balaji Ramachandran Money is very important when you dont have any

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Pakistan

Dec 04, 2015 09:12am

@Sarah your sense is really not common.

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Shahid

Dec 04, 2015 02:18pm

Where specifically are those fitness problems. May be one or two players could have done better in the field and saved 5-10 runs or may be a couple of run outs could have been avoided. Sure that must be addressed but is that the reason for our 6 consecutive defeats? One also must remember that run outs are a product of bad judgments and some of our senior player's bad habit of running a quarter of the wicket on every ball and then sending the other batsman back. It has nothing to do with fitness.

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Zaeemuddin

Dec 04, 2015 10:58pm

I don't agree with the Author, Shahid Afridi is the best asset for Pakistan to win the T20 World cup. Pakistan Cricket Board Need to protect him for another 5 more years as a servant of Pakistani Cricket. He will win us the T20

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