TOUGH CALL: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan haven’t featured for Pakistan in T20Is since last year. Photo: AFP/File
KARACHI:
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi on Friday commented on the absence of senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the Pakistan squad for the upcoming ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to run from September 9 to 28.
Babar and Rizwan, who represented Pakistan in every multi-lateral tournament since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been out of favour in the shortest format since the three-match away series against South Africa in December last year.
The duo ultimately failed to make it to the Pakistan squad for the upcoming Asia Cup as the former champions shift their focus to grooming youngsters ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
Their snub from the continental tournament drew severe backlash from fans and former cricketers, but their teammate Shaheen emphasised backing the youngsters while acknowledging them as ‘world-class players’.
“I won’t be here either in the future. I believe everyone should get the opportunity,” stated Shaheen.
“Babar and Rizwan are world-class players, and they played pretty good cricket for Pakistan and by the will of Almighty Allah will play again.
“But again, everyone should get the opportunity, and they should grab it with both hands. They are our youngsters as well, so we should back them. They are also our players, and we should take them forward.”
Shaheen’s remarks came on the sidelines of the national men’s team’s training session at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here for the tri-nation T20I series against Afghanistan and hosts UAE, which will precede the Asia Cup 2025.
The series will get underway on August 29 and will conclude on September 7, just a day before the commencement of the eight-team continental event.
Babar resumes training
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Friday resumed training in Lahore after returning from a brief stay in the United States following the West Indies ODI series.
Babar began batting practice at a local cricket institute on Friday, where he conducted batting drills with young players. Sources suggest he may feature in a local tournament organised by the institute as part of his ongoing preparations.
The right-hander struggled for form in the recent ODI series against the West Indies, managing just 56 runs in three matches, with a highest score of 47.
Meanwhile, Babar was not included in Pakistan’s announced T20 squad for the Asia Cup, while his central contract was downgraded from Category A to Category B.
It is pertinent to mention that the PCB announced central contracts for 30 men’s cricketers last week, with no player included in category A this year.
Unlike previous editions, ten players each have been slotted into categories B, C, and D.