In Pakpassion's latest exclusive interview, Awais Zia, former Pakistan T20 cricketer, and seasoned domestic performer, spoke about the challenges, setbacks, and untold stories from his cricketing journey. Known for his aggressive style, Awais shared his honest views on selection biases, his PSL experience, and the struggles faced by talented players in Pakistan’s cricketing system.

By PakPassion Staff (  Jan 27, 2025)

In Pakpassion's latest exclusive interview, Awais Zia, former Pakistan T20 cricketer and a seasoned domestic performer, spoke about the challenges, setbacks, and untold stories from his cricketing journey.

Known for his aggressive style, Awais shared his honest views on selection biases, his PSL experience, and the struggles faced by talented players in Pakistan’s cricketing system.

Main topics covered in this interview:

The "T20 Specialist" trap: He emphasized that the T20 label prevented versatile batsmen like Saim Ayub and himself from playing in Tests or ODIs, even though they had the necessary skills.

Misbah's legacy and Babar Azam's future: He pointed out that Misbah’s conservative style often stalled momentum, but unlike Misbah, Babar’s slower approach is offset by his higher scoring rate.

Domestic dominance and exclusion from the National team: He highlighted that despite leading T20 stats in 2019, he was notably overlooked for the national side, indicating unfair selection practices.

Karachi Kings and the Sharjeel Khan mystery: He remarked that, although Sharjeel Khan was out of form, the franchise continued to prioritize him over potentially in-form players.

Pakistan's player development deficiencies: He stressed that a lack of guidance and early labeling stifles potential, leaving many players sidelined or restricted to one format.

Rawalpindi's cricket culture & influencers: He noted that internal politics and key individuals hold significant sway, often disrupting fairness and transparency in team selections.

Watch the full interview here: