Usama Mir Voices Concerns Over Selection Transparency

Pakistani leg-spinner Usama Mir has voiced his profound disappointment regarding his ongoing exclusion from the national team, despite consistent displays of strong performance and dedication.

In an open discussion with a local sports outlet, Mir conveyed his perspective, raising questions about the objectivity of selection procedures.

“When I am eligible for selection, I am repeatedly overlooked—so what more can I say? It simply doesn’t make sense to me,” Usama remarked.

“I claimed the most wickets in the previous PSL season, yet I was not chosen. Although my performance this year was not quite as high, individuals with poorer statistics were still picked ahead of me. The situation is now very apparent to me,” he added.

The 29-year-old, consistently ignored for national selection in spite of reliable performances, articulated his deep dissatisfaction with the management of his career and the selection dynamics.

“I feel I’m at a juncture where, if granted an opportunity, the common response would merely be, ‘Perform well, and you will be considered,’ and nothing more,” he stated.

Pointing to his record-setting accomplishments, the spinner questioned why his achievements have gone unacknowledged.

“To this day, I still possess the record for the highest number of wickets taken in a single PSL season across ten editions—yet, despite this, I was not selected. People often comment on my previous match, saying, ‘You secured that victory for us—why were you dropped afterward?’ I share their bewilderment,” he expressed.

He further described how he addressed concerns about his fitness by actively taking measures to improve.

“Subsequently, I dedicated myself to rigorous training. Fitness became the rationale for my exclusion. I was informed that I had failed a fitness assessment, so I committed to intense training. As the captain of the Sialkot team, trainers and the head coach can attest to my efforts. Even rival teams were impressed by my commitment,” he disclosed.

Despite his efforts, Mir states that he was never afforded the promised opportunity to demonstrate his improved fitness.

“I achieved the required fitness levels. I was assured, ‘You will be given time. Your assessment will be conducted closer to the Champions T20.’ However, the assessment never occurred. I consistently contacted selectors and officials—decision-makers whom I won’t name. I was repeatedly advised to ‘wait a little longer.’ Eventually, they ceased all communication,” he added.

He recounted how the breakdown in communication escalated, even with his persistent attempts to make contact.

“It took them an entire month to respond to a single one of my messages. I received a notification stating, ‘Your assessment is scheduled for this date.’ That date never materialized. Rest days continued, but no assessment took place. This occurred multiple times. I continued to call—they stopped answering and stopped responding to messages,” he lamented.

Usama recalled a particularly perplexing scenario preceding his Big Bash League participation, where the level of confusion and miscommunication reached a new nadir.

“I was preparing to depart for the Big Bash League (BBL) and sought to resolve all outstanding issues beforehand. I arrived in Sydney on the 23rd, and the following day, the 24th, I received a message stating, ‘You must report on the 26th,’” he recounted.

He revealed that the same official who had recently approved his NOC seemed unaware of his travel plans.

“The very same official had provided me with the NOC on the 21st. I inquired, ‘Are you not aware of my location?’ and he responded, ‘I am not.’ I pointed out, ‘You were the one who issued the NOC! Did you not verify the dates before approving it? How can I possibly return now? I have been trying to reach you for an entire month, and now you urgently request my return?’” he recounted.

In concluding his remarks, Usama conveyed his ongoing bewilderment at the treatment he has experienced.

“These are the kinds of experiences I have encountered—and I remain genuinely perplexed as to the reasons behind them. I possess evidence to substantiate every claim I have made,” he concluded.