Sami Aslam played only 13 Tests and 4 ODIs for his national side and has quit the Pakistan cricket team. Thus, the left-hander will soon be eligible to play for the United States of America (USA), from November 2023, and has no regrets about moving past his career for the Men in Green.
In an exclusive interaction with PakPassion.net, Aslam made some glaring revelations about Pakistan cricket, bias involved at every step, and also pointed out that over 100 first-class cricketers in Pakistan want to follow suit and settle in America.
Aslam stated, “I have had calls from over 100 First-class players in Pakistan exploring the possibility of them settling in America. Even the best performers currently in Pakistan domestic cricket are keen to move here and 1 or 2 are close to being signed up in the coming days.”
He further opined, “There’s 3-year eligibility and I will qualify to play for America in November 2023. I’ve not even 1 per cent regret it. I am really happy after being depressed in Pakistan for 2 years. I was in a bad place due to coaches and events in Pakistan and the way they treated me.
I wasn’t one of those players who would keep phoning the coach and praising him. I have always relied on my on-field performances rather than sucking up to coaches or team management for no reason as some players do,” he added.
“It’s all about the culture of “liking and disliking” individuals. If your face fits, you are fine, if not, they will find any way to side-line you. I’ll give you the example of T20 cricket, where I was a solid performer in T20 tournaments in Pakistan and then suddenly the PSL comes along, and I am deemed not good enough for this format. Some guys have been picked for the PSL who weren’t even being picked for club cricket, yet I wasn’t even picked as a supplementary player in 6 tournaments. That is clear evidence that PSL selection is about who is well-in with the owners and the team management, and my face didn’t fit so that’s why I never got the chance to play in the PSL,” the 25-year-old went onto add.
Aslam, thus, stepped aside from Pakistan cricket — playing just 13 Tests to return with 758 runs and 7 half-centuries whereas he amassed 78 runs in 4 outings in the ODI format.
While Aslam hasn’t named anyone in his claims, it will be interesting to see if the current Misbah-ul-Haq-led team management responds to his statements. Currently, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan team is in Zimbabwe and have their nose well ahead of the hosts at stumps on Day 2 of the second and final Test.
Zimbabwe trail Pakistan by 458 runs, at 52-4, in response to the visitors’ 510/8 decl. After an ODI and T20I series win in South Africa, Pakistan already won the T20I series versus the lowly-ranked Zimbabwe side and will hope to clean sweep the hosts in the two Tests on Sunday (May 9).
