LAHORE: Former chief selector and coach Mohsin Khan has expressed his surprise over the criteria adopted for selection of Pakistan squads for the three T20 matches against Australia as well as for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, announced this week.

“If the selectors are giving preference to the players’ performance in the Bangladesh Premier League and English county cricket, then all first-class cricket in Pakistan should be abolished,” Mohsin said while speaking candidly with Dawn.

The former opener said youngster Ahmed Shehzad, who had a successful tour of Sri Lanka had been sidelined on flimsy grounds. Moreover, he said the omission of medium-fast Junaid Khan and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman were also quite disappointing.

The PCB startled critics and fans by naming both the squads on Tuesday despite the fact that 40 days are still left before the Australia series commences on Aug 28 in the UAE.

“I am surprised that the team was announced so early because still there is a lot of time left for the Aussie series. It has been reported in the media that the team was named in haste because coach [Dav] Whatmore had to leave for Australia which means the coach has the final say in the selection of the team and not the selection committee,” he said.

“Another surprising thing is the impression given by the selectors that experience has been preferred over youth to ensure good show in the World T20. I always thought that the Twenty20 was a game for the youngsters but the selectors seem to know better.

“However, I would say that while Raza Hasan is a very promising bowler, Abdur Rehman should have been preferred over him because I feel he has approved himself as a great asset in all the three formats.”

Mohsin also claimed that a few of the players named in the squads have doubts over their fitness but they still have been selected.

“The PCB could have organised a quick T20 tournament in Ramazan to test the fitness of the all the players,” said Mohsin.

He praised the inclusion of Kamran Akmal and Asad Shafiq, hoping both would boost the team’s performance in the global event.

“Although I am disappointed with some of the selections and some omissions, my sincere wishes are with the Pakistan team to win all the matches ahead,” he concluded.