The prestigious annual teams selection by the renowned cricket statistics website, ESPNcricinfo, has delivered a sobering verdict for Pakistan cricket. For the year 2025, no Pakistani cricketer has been included in either the T20 International or the One-Day International Teams of the Year. This notable omission is set to spark widespread debate among the nation's passionate cricket followers.
Cricinfo's T20I Team of 2025: A Global Mix
ESPNcricinfo's selected T20I XI for 2025 is dominated by players from the world's top-performing sides. The lineup features three representatives each from India and England, underscoring their consistent performances in the shortest format. The West Indies contributed two players, while Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa have one player each.
The chosen T20I team is: Abhishek Sharma, Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Dewald Brevis, Tim David, Sam Curran, Jason Holder, Noor Ahmad, Varun Chakravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah. The composition highlights the global spread of T20 talent, with notable absentees from Pakistan, a nation that actively participates in international T20 circuits.
ODI Team Selection Also Bypasses Green Shirts
The trend of exclusion continued in the 50-over format. Cricinfo's ODI Team of the Year for 2025 also passed over Pakistani players, selecting a side with a strong representation from England and New Zealand. Three players from both England and New Zealand made the cut, followed by two each from India and the West Indies, and one from South Africa.
The ODI XI comprises: Rohit Sharma, Matthew Breetzke, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Shai Hope (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Matt Henry, and Jayden Seales. This selection reflects performances in ODI cricket throughout the year, where Pakistan's players failed to make a compelling enough case for the panel of experts.
Reactions and Implications for Pakistan Cricket
The complete absence from both elite lists is expected to trigger significant discussion and introspection within Pakistan's cricket community. This comes despite Pakistan's active schedule in international cricket during 2025. Fans and analysts alike are likely to question the current form, consistency, and impact of the country's top stars on the world stage when compared to their international peers.
Such recognitions, while subjective, serve as a barometer for individual excellence within the global game. The omission from both formats may act as a catalyst for players and the cricket board to critically assess performance metrics and strategies to reclaim a place among the world's best, as perceived by independent cricket authorities.
