ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has defended the appointment of Shamyl Hussain, son of senior journalist Syed Talat Hussain, as captain of the Pakistan Television (PTV) cricket team, saying the decision was based purely on merit and his outstanding performance.
The issue surfaced after former information minister Fawad Chaudhry alleged that Shamyl’s rise in cricket was the result of favoritism. In a post on social media, Chaudhry claimed that Talat Hussain had received multiple benefits, including a highly paid consultancy at Pakistan Television Corporation and a position at SAMAA TV, and that his son had now secured a place in the national cricket setup.
Responding to the accusations, Tarar strongly denied any such claims. He stated that Talat Hussain had not received any financial compensation or special accommodation from the government or PTV. According to Tarar, Shamyl Hussain’s leadership played a crucial role in the PTV team’s success, as they captured both the President’s Trophy (Pakistan cricket) and the President’s Cup One Day Tournament, while Shamyl also emerged as the side’s leading batsman.
Tarar urged critics not to politicize the achievements of a young athlete, emphasizing that Shamyl should be assessed on his abilities and performances rather than his family background.
Support for the young cricketer also came from cricket historian and broadcaster Nauman Niaz, who highlighted Shamyl’s impressive statistics. Niaz noted that the 21-year-old has scored 899 runs in red-ball cricket during the current season. In 13 List-A matches, he accumulated 556 runs at an average of 46.33 with a strike rate exceeding 100, including two centuries and three half-centuries.
Overall, Shamyl has scored 2,019 runs in 26 first-class matches at an average of 45.88, registering six centuries and nine fifties. Niaz said he had followed Shamyl’s journey from the early stages and praised his dedication, discipline, and ambition to represent Pakistan at the highest level.
He added that while Talat Hussain supported and mentored his son throughout his development, Shamyl’s progress in cricket has ultimately been built on performance and hard work.
