Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has defended the decision to appoint senior journalist Syed Talat Hussain's son Shamyl Hussain as the captain of Pakistan Television (PTV) Cricket team, citing what he described as 'exceptional performance'.
Responding to a tweet by former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Attaullah Tarar said that the PTV Cricket Team set new records and won the President’s Trophy and President’s Cup OD Tournament under the leadership of Shamyl Hussain, who was our top batsman and Captain.
Earlier, Fawad had accused Shamyl Hussain of being a beneficiary of nepotism. In a tweet on Thursday, former PTI leader said, "Talat Hussain was forcibly placed on Samaa TV with a hefty salary, then he was given a 7.6 million rupee consultancy for PTV English, then his personal staff was accommodated with heavy salaries, and now his son has been included in the national cricket team. Such leeches are stuck to this system that God forbid!!"
Tarar denied having accommodated or paid Talat Hussain 'in any capacity'. He quote-tweeted Fawad, saying, "Totally false and refuted strongly. Not a single penny paid to Tallat Hussain sb in any capacity, nor has he been accommodated. PTV Cricket Team set new records and won the President’s Trophy and President’s Cup OD Tournament under the leadership of Shamyl Hussain, who was our top batsman and Captain. Exceptional performance! Don't destroy the career of a young, budding cricketer by bringing politics into it. He should be judged on his talent and not his lineage. You and I should know this better than others."
Totally false and refuted strongly. Not a single penny paid to Tallat Hussain sb in any capacity nor has he been accommodated. PTV Cricket Team set new records and won the President’s Trophy and President’s Cup OD Tournament under leadership of Shamyl Hussain who was our top… https://t.co/qtxna563TF
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 5, 2026
Senior journalist and historian of Pakistan cricket, Dr Nauman Niaz, also came to Shamyl's defence.
"He has accumulated 899 runs in red-ball cricket this season. In 13 List A matches, he scored 556 runs at an average of 46.33, with a strike rate of 100.85, including two hundreds and three half-centuries", wrote Dr Niaz.
"Overall, in 26 First-Class matches, he has amassed 2,019 runs at an average of 45.88, comprising six hundreds and nine half-centuries.
I have been privileged to witness the beginning of his cricketing journey, the hard work, passion, focus, and ambition that shaped his aspiration to represent Pakistan, a dream now realised.
His father, Talat Hussain, mentored him from the outset, providing all that was within his means. It is a moment of immense pride for him as well, for us all.
The young man possesses rare ability and has progressed through a system grounded firmly in performance.
At just 21 years of age, his maturity is evident and truly inspiring.
Go well, young man, you have deserved every bit of this success."