Pakistan cricket star Babar Azam advised to enhance T20 batting average following his exclusion from the Asia Cup team squad.
Pakistan's cricket selectors have made a strategic move, excluding star batsman Babar Azam from the country's T20 squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 and the tri-series against Afghanistan and UAE. This decision comes primarily due to Babar's low strike rate and inability to accelerate the batting tempo in T20 internationals.
The exclusion reflects a shift towards backing younger, more dynamic players to create a more impact-driven and aggressive batting lineup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and coach Mike Hesson have supported this move as part of preparing the team for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Reasons for Exclusion
Babar Azam's strike rate of around 128.57 in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) was viewed as insufficiently aggressive for a T20 opener. His valuable contributions notwithstanding, the selectors have emphasised that Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, who have also been excluded, have not met expectations in the shortest format.
Comeback Strategy
The door is not closed on Babar Azam's return to the team. He is currently focusing on fine-tuning his batting skills through intensive training after being dropped and demoted in the PCB central contracts. Opportunities still exist for him to return, especially if he performs well in domestic leagues like the PSL and overseas T20 tournaments such as the Big Bash League.
The New Generation
The team management is taking a chance with the next generation of batters, potentially clearing the way for them to flourish. Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan are among the batters preferred by the team management. Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan, with strike rates of 131 and 127 in T20Is respectively, could be the ones to fill the void left by Babar and Rizwan.
Upcoming Competitions
Pakistan will participate in a tri-series against Afghanistan and UAE, taking place in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7. The Asia Cup, which will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28, will be the team's next major competition. These events are seen as auditions for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Salman Agha will lead Pakistan in the upcoming T20 assignments, despite having a strike rate of 115. Hassan Nawaz and Mohammad Haris are the only batters with strike rates significantly better than Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
The success of this strategic move will be evident in the upcoming competitions. Pakistan is emphasizing intent in the shortest format, despite lacking experience in the batting department. The team's performance in the Asia Cup and the tri-series will provide insights into the potential of the new batting lineup and Pakistan's readiness for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
