A new controversy has erupted in Pakistan cricket as former selector Tauseef Ahmed has claimed favouritism involving former Pakistan head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and all-rounder Shadab Khan in team selection. Tauseef, in the Fawad Alam Show, said Saqlain had tried to influence him while he was a selector regarding Shadab’s selection as a Pakistan player.
The accusation has attracted attention because Shadab’s selection and performance for Pakistan is constantly talked about. Tauseef asked whether a player should continue to get opportunities if he fails to perform well. But his comments are allegations only and there is no outside evidence for wrongdoing.
Tauseef claimed in the interview that Saqlain had specifically supported Shadab and that there was a limit to the number of opportunities that could be given to a struggling player. He questioned the extent to which Shadab was getting support and was critical of what he termed favouritism in the selection process.
The former selector also made a more serious claim. Tauseef said he had a voice recording related to an alleged attempt to influence him over Shadab’s selection. He claimed that a phone call was made to him and another individual was also asked to speak to him about the matter.
Tauseef alleged that he did not answer the call and that a recording was sent to him. His comments have added another dimension to the controversy because once the alleged recording is released and authenticated, it could provide more context to the conversation he described.
The allegations have triggered Saqlain Mushtaq’s response. Instead of accepting the claim, Saqlain challenges Tauseef to release the recording and questions the way in which the incident had been presented. The response has turned the attention to whether the recording really exists or not and what it contains.
At present, the recording mentioned by Tauseef has not been made public, so the claims cannot be confirmed from the material available. The two sides have also given different accounts of how the communication should be understood. The controversy is still centered on competing claims rather than established evidence.
Shadab Khan has had a great impact on the Pakistan limited-overs team for years as a batsman and fielder, and his selection and position in the team have been constantly debated among fans and analysts.
Tauseef Ahmed says he has recording of Saqlain trying to influence him to select Shadab Khan pic.twitter.com/z2yv7DB4Kr
— Ghumman (@emclub77) September 18, 2026
International cricket selection can be controversial in that players go through periods of inconsistent form, so teams will have difficult decisions to make. Coaches and selectors will evaluate factors beyond individual statistics, such as experience, team balance, tactical requirements, and the player’s potential contributions in different situations.
Allegations of outside influence, if supported by credible evidence, can raise wider questions about transparency and the decision-making process.
The latest comments from Tauseef have reopened the debate on Shadab's selection and the responsibilities of Pakistan's selectors and coaching staff. But it is important to distinguish the former selector’s claims from independently established facts. Until the purported recording is made public and its authenticity and context are established, it is not clear that the claims are true.
The issue is likely to continue to be a talking point in Pakistan cricket if either side provides any additional evidence or clarification. For now, Tauseef has publicly stated his case and has claimed to have some material related to the alleged interaction, while Saqlain has called for it to be made public.
The next developments could depend on whether the alleged recording is released and independently verified.
