The Pakistan Cricket Board has already announced the national squad that will take on Bangladesh in the upcoming three-match T20I series, sparking plenty of debate once more. But one name has caught everyone’s eye for its omission, Karachi Kings’ Mir Hamza.
Mir Hamza’s story is a copybook example of several other cricketers who, despite commendable domestic stats, have struggled to break into the international level. However, Hamza’s exclusion is raising more than a few eyebrows, because when you line up his PSL X numbers next to Naseem Shah’s, who did make the cut, there is only one clear winner.
In a squad selected by Hesson, a coach renowned for his evidence-based, numbers-first approach, it’s worth unpacking how the two fast bowlers stacked up in the country’s premier domestic T20 showcase, which was cited as the basis for national selection.
Mir Hamza and Naseem Shah’s PSL X Stats:
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mir Hamza | 9 | 10 | 23.40 | 7.35 |
| Naseem Shah | 9 | 9 | 34.55 | 8.88 |
From a purely statistical lens, Mir Hamza was the more effective bowler across the PSL group stage. The left-armer’s economy rate of 7.35 stands out in a format where run suppression is as vital as wicket-taking. In contrast, Naseem’s economy ballooned to 8.88, and his bowling average of 34.5 indicates he was far less efficient.
While both bowlers claimed nine wickets, Hamza’s control in the Powerplay and death overs was markedly superior. He often operated as Karachi Kings’ most reliable enforcer with the new ball and was pivotal in tightening the screws during crunch phases.
Mike Hesson Factor
The presence of Mike Hesson as Pakistan’s head coach brought hope of a more meritocratic, data-driven approach. The former New Zealand coach has long been known for selecting squads based on match-ups, current form, and performance metrics, often resisting reputation-based picks.
Which makes Naseem Shah’s inclusion, at least based on this season’s PSL output, somewhat puzzling.
However, context matters. Naseem, despite a modest PSL showing, is seen as a high-ceiling asset, young, express-paced, and with previous international pedigree. There’s also the intangible factor of match-winning potential. Naseem’s raw pace and reverse-swing ability offer a weapon Pakistan has historically leaned on during crunch games, although his returns have been less than satisfactory in recent months.
The Mir Hamza Conundrum
For Mir Hamza, this may feel like déjà vu. The left-arm seamer has frequently been on the fringes of national selection, delivering domestically but struggling to break into the white-ball setup. This PSL was arguably his most consistent T20 campaign yet, and the data backs that claim.
In a format increasingly ruled by high-impact moments and scoreboard pressure, Hamza’s economy rate stands as a genuine asset, especially on flat tracks where control is a premium. For a side often accused of letting games slip in the middle overs, his exclusion seems a missed opportunity to diversify the bowling attack.
In a squad curated by a data-committed selector like Mike Hesson, Mir Hamza had a strong statistical case for inclusion, perhaps even a stronger one than Naseem Shah based solely on PSL X form.
But team selections are rarely black and white. Perhaps Mir Hamza’s 32 years of age was a factor against him, or maybe it was his pace. It could have been his inability to tonk the ball like Naseem.
That said, if form and efficiency are the currency of selection, then Mir Hamza has every right to feel hard done by.
Mir Hamza could have one more opportunity to outduel Naseem Shah one more time in PSL X if Karachi and Islamabad meet in Eliminator 2, and perhaps earn some satisfaction, as little of worth as it may be.
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