Former fast bowler Abdur Rauf Khan slams Pakistan team management ahead of T20 World Cup

With just 22 days remaining before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup, uncertainty continues to surround Pakistan’s national squad, drawing sharp criticism from former fast bowler Abdur Rauf Khan, who has questioned the competence and vision of the team management.

In a strongly worded statement, Abdur Rauf Khan expressed deep frustration over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) failure to finalize the World Cup squad despite months of continuous T20 cricket and heavy financial investment in coaching staff and support personnel.

“What is the point of spending huge amounts on coaches and management when they are still unable to finalize a squad for a global tournament?” he asked. “This is nothing short of negligence and incompetence.”

The former pacer also criticized Pakistan’s long-standing neglect of Test cricket, calling it the most important format of the game. He said Pakistan has deprioritized red-ball cricket for years while focusing almost exclusively on T20s yet without achieving clarity or consistency even in the shortest format.

Abdur Rauf Khan highlighted Pakistan’s packed T20 schedule over the last six months, which included series against South Africa, Sri Lanka, Australia, multiple tri-nation tournaments involving teams such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, UAE, and Zimbabwe, as well as the T20 Asia Cup in the UAE. Despite this extensive exposure, he said the selectors remain indecisive.

“It is shocking that after so many matches, we still don’t know who Pakistan’s wicketkeeper will be in the World Cup,” he said. “There is no clarity about the fast bowling attack, the spin department, or even the fitness status of key players like Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar Zaman.”

He also pointed out tactical confusion within the batting order, questioning whether captain Babar Azam will bat at number three or open the innings—an issue that should have been settled long ago.

While most full-member nations and even newly qualified associate teams have already announced their World Cup squads, Pakistan continues to delay its decision, fueling concerns among fans and former players alike.

“Once again, we are heading into a World Cup following old traditions and stereotypes,” Abdur Rauf Khan warned. “Throwing money around like water without brains, planning, and vision has never produced good results. Only God knows what the outcome will be.”

His comments have reignited debate around Pakistan cricket’s governance and long-term planning, as supporters anxiously await clarity ahead of one of the sport’s biggest tournaments.