Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has been left out of the squad for the national team’s upcoming home white-ball assignments, prompting criticism on social media from journalists and cricket fans.
Tariq posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story shortly after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced squads for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka and the ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka.
“The hardest part of wisdom is learning to stay silent when Ego wants to speak,” Tariq wrote.
The right-arm spinner has represented Pakistan in nine T20Is and taken 18 wickets at an economy rate of 6.66.
He was also Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker at the 2026 T20 World Cup, taking 10 wickets in six matches at an average of 14.10 and an economy rate of 7.23.
Journalist Shahzab Iqbal questioned the decision in a post on X, writing, “Wasn’t he supposed to be our trump card for T20 WC? Y has he been dropped now? In 9 T20Is he has taken 18 wickets at an economy rate of 6.66. That’s not just good, it’s exceptional. Pakistan’s selection process is a complete circus and sadly not even an entertaining one.”
Another person criticised the team management, writing, “The current management isn’t serious about developing a team In every series they bring 5,6 new players and in next series those are replaced by another 6 players and after that they select tested failures like shadab, shaheen Rauf etc Nepotism and favouritism is destroying it.”
One comment stated, “I don’t know how selectors select the team. They don’t look at performances they choose based on likes and dislikes. PCB and aqib javed should be removed. Every one is removed except these two.”
Another user questioned Tariq’s omission from the Asian Games, writing, “it was criminal not to select him for asian games when both opponents were left handers dominated and he did well against India in the WC.”
Tariq was part of Pakistan’s Asian Games campaign alongside Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, Ali Raza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Akif Javed and Ahmed Daniyal.
All were omitted from the squads announced for the upcoming home assignments.
Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on 9, 11 and 13 October before playing an ODI tri-series against England and Sri Lanka, with matches scheduled in Rawalpindi and Lahore.
