Former Pakistan cricket star Mohammad Yousuf has voiced serious reservations over the growing reliance on Pakistan Super League (PSL) performances when selecting players for the national team.
Speaking during a current affairs programme on Samaa TV, Yousuf said he was unclear on what led to batter Usman Khan’s selection for the national side, despite the player’s strong performance in the last PSL season.
He pointed out that while Usman had impressed in the league, he had not followed the traditional route of development through domestic cricket.
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Yousuf stressed that the PSL, though competitive, should not be treated as the main yardstick for picking international players.
He echoed the views of cricket analyst Azhar Zaidi, who recently remarked that the PSL is more about entertainment and should not be seen as a direct pathway to the national squad.
According to Yousuf, proper player development requires a more structured process. Promising youngsters, he suggested, should first be identified and trained at cricket academies.
Once they have developed the necessary skills, they should be tested in the longer format through first-class cricket.
Only after consistent performances at that level, Yousuf added, should players be promoted to PSL teams — and eventually considered for national duties.
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He criticised the fast-tracking of players without them proving themselves in the domestic setup.Referring again to Usman Khan, Yousuf noted that bypassing the standard process raises questions about fairness and merit.
Yousuf concluded that even exceptional scores in a few PSL matches should not be enough to earn a national call-up, as long-term performance and adaptability across formats remain key indicators of a player’s readiness for international cricket.
His remarks have sparked further debate about Pakistan’s talent development strategy and the role of T20 leagues in shaping future stars.