he omission of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has shocked fans and triggered heated debates, but Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear he had nothing to do with the decision.
“First of all, I don’t have even 1 per cent role in putting players into the team or taking them out. We have a selection committee and then an advisory body; they all sit together. The process goes through a lot discussions that last 8 and 10 hours, sometimes for 2 to 3 days,” Naqvi told reporters, as quoted by the Times of India.
Emphasizing that the process is in the hands of experts, he added:
“Definitely, if a team is being selected, it’s in good hands; all professionals are there. I’ve only told them one thing – whatever decision they take, it should be on merit, and I will support that.”
A Brutal Call
On August 17, Pakistan announced their squad, and the absence of their two most experienced batters Babar and Rizwan sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Head coach Mike Hesson has already thrown down the gauntlet, urging Babar to raise his scoring rate if he wants to return to T20 internationals.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The statistics paint a worrying picture. In 2025, Babar’s strike rate has hovered around 128 across T20s, dipping further to 125 against spin. His struggles were brutally exposed at the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he managed just 101.67. Rizwan’s record is even less flattering a strike rate of 120 in 50 T20s since 2024, sliding to 111.09 against spin.
More Than Just an Omission
The blow is not limited to squad selection. Both Babar and Rizwan have been demoted from Category A to Category B in Pakistan’s central contracts for 2025/26. Neither has featured in a T20I this year, and their latest snub feels like the clearest signal yet Pakistan’s think tank may be preparing for a future without their long time batting pillars.
The Road Ahead
Pakistan will kick off their Asia Cup campaign against Oman on September 12 in Dubai, before the blockbuster showdown against India on September 14. Yet, the absence of two of their most recognizable names leaves a lingering question: has Pakistan already turned the page on the Babar and Rizwan era in T20 cricket?
