PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has broken silence on the omission of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad.
PCB Chairman Distances Himself from Babar-Rizwan Omission
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi finally broke his silence on the omission of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the 17-member squad for the Asia Cup, clarifying that he has no role in the selection process. The decision, which stunned fans and experts alike, came despite Pakistan(PCB) losing the recent three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.
Head coach Mike Hesson and chief selector Aqib Javed explained that the duo was asked to work on their game and improve their strike rate. Pakistan will now be led by Salman Ali Agha in the Asia Cup, starting September 9, where they are grouped with India, the UAE, and Oman.
The exclusion has sparked heavy criticism, as both Babar and Rizwan have been sidelined from T20Is since the Champions Trophy. Responding to the backlash, Naqvi told reporters that the call was entirely made by the selection committee and advisory body after lengthy discussions. “I don’t have even 1 per cent role in putting players into the team or taking them out,” he said. “I’ve only told them one thing — whatever decision they take, it should be on merit, and I will support that.”
What did Aqib Javed say about Babar’s exclusion?
While unveiling Pakistan’s squad for the Asia Cup, selector Aqib Javed clarified that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been given clear guidelines on how to return to the T20 setup. He stressed that the duo must perform in domestic tournaments and other global competitions to prove their worth and reclaim their places.
Javed was blunt in his assessment, saying that the current squad has better-performing T20 players and that Pakistan have therefore moved past the senior pair for now. He assured, however, that both will have “ample chances” to make a comeback if they adapt and improve their strike rates.
Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
