Karachi: Former Pakistan head coach and Australian cricket legend Jason Gillespie expressed surprise at the exclusion of two players from the Pakistani squad and called it a big mistake.
In his recent interview, Gillespie said that the inclusion of young players Irfan Khan Niazi and Safyan Muqim could have been a big advantage for Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He is appreciative of Irfan Khan Niazi’s batting and fielding abilities and it was an unbelievable decision not to include him in the team.
He said that Irfan Khan Niazi is one of the most dangerous and best hard hitters in Pakistan, he is also the best fielder in the country, it is unbelievable that he was not selected for the Champions Trophy.
Jason Gillespie also praised the abilities of young spinner Safyan Muqim and called him a valuable asset to Pakistan cricket.
He said that Safyan Muqim is a talented cricketer, if given the right opportunities, he can serve Pakistan cricket for a long time.
He said that in his short international career, Safyan Muqim has proven his abilities and temperament. The mistake made by the selectors and team management in ignoring him and going into the tournament with only one spinner was obvious.
It should be noted that the Pakistani team failed to defend its title in the Champions Trophy 2025 and was eliminated from the tournament in the group stage.
The Green Shirts had to face defeats against New Zealand and India in both their opening matches. Pakistan will play their last group match against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi.
