Farhan’s Exclusion Sparks Fan Discontent After Leading PSL Performance

LAHORE: The omission of Sahibzada Farhan, the prolific top-order batsman, from Pakistan’s squad for the initial T20I against Bangladesh at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, has triggered widespread disappointment among supporters.

Farhan distinguished himself as the highest run-getter in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, amassing 449 runs across 12 innings with an average of 37.41. However, he was surprisingly excluded from the starting XI, with Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman returning as the opening pair.

The announcement of Pakistan’s playing XI following the toss prompted a surge of fan reactions on social media, where many voiced their disapproval and criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and team management for what they perceived as unfair treatment.

One user expressed on X, formerly Twitter, “I feel for Sahibzada Farhan. Based on PSL performances, he genuinely deserved to open instead of Saim Ayub.”

Another user echoed the sentiment, stating, “Stop being unjust to Sahibzada Farhan.”

However, some cricket enthusiasts held the opinion that finding a spot for Sahibzada Farhan in the XI was challenging, while also expressing enthusiasm for the Fakhar-Saim opening partnership.

A user commented on X, “It’s a good playing XI, and unfortunately, there isn’t space for Sahibzada Farhan at the moment, as it is difficult to accommodate him with Fakhar and Nawaz present.”

Regrettably, both Saim and Fakhar experienced underwhelming performances, being dismissed for zero and one run, respectively.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, acknowledged during the toss that selecting the playing XI was a difficult task, given that all 16 squad members displayed excellent form and had a successful PSL season.

Agha elaborated, “Deciding on the XI was tough because all 16 players are in great form, coming off a fantastic PSL. We aim to embrace modern cricket and aggressively pursue the game with bat, ball, and fielding. This is the standard you can expect from us moving forward.”