Categories: Cricket

Pakistan Squad For Asia Cup 2025 May Not Feature Babar Azam

Pakistan Squad For Asia Cup 2025 May Not Feature Babar Azam: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is gearing up to announce its squad for the upcoming T20I tri-nation series and the Asia Cup 2025. But despite the buzz on social media, there has been no official talk within the selection committee about bringing Babar Azam back into the team, even with veteran opener Fakhar Zaman sidelined by injury.

Fakhar has been ruled out for the rest of the ongoing Caribbean tour after suffering a hamstring injury during the recent T20I series against the West Indies. He missed the final T20I and will not be part of the ODI series either, which has fueled speculation about a possible Babar Azam comeback.

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Selectors Not Rushing to Recall Babar Azam:

According to a report by CricketPakistan.com, selectors are hesitant to bring senior players back into the fold before the Asia Cup. The committee confirmed that there has not been any formal discussion on Babar Azam’s inclusion yet, and Fakhar’s availability for the tournament is still uncertain.

“Sources within the selection committee have stated that no formal discussion has yet taken place on the matter, and Fakhar’s unavailability for the tournament is not confirmed at this point,” the report read.

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Babar Azam last played a T20I in December 2024. His Asia Cup T20 record is modest, with just 68 runs in six matches at an average of 11.33. The squad for both the tri-nation series and the Asia Cup is expected to be named in the second week of August.

A Possible Return if Fakhar Misses Out:

The report also suggested that Babar Azam could make a return to the T20 squad if Fakhar is ruled out. The final call will be taken in a review meeting after the West Indies tour.

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While the door is not closed for Babar Azam, the PCB is currently focused on building a young, dynamic squad and is cautious about changing the current team balance. Bringing Babar Azam back could also put extra pressure on current T20I captain Salman Ali Agha.

“According to a PCB official, the door to the T20 squad remains open for Babar, and if Fakhar is not available, his return could be considered,” the report added.

Shift Toward Youth After T20 World Cup 2024:

Babar’s recent T20I form has not been great, with 236 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 26 and no fifties. He last captained the T20I side during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan’s underwhelming performance pushed the PCB to focus on grooming younger players.

Still, some in Pakistan cricket circles believe his experience could prove invaluable in high-pressure matches, especially against India in the Asia Cup.

Salman Ali Agha took over as T20I skipper in November 2024. While his tenure started with a series loss to Australia, he has since led Pakistan to victories over Zimbabwe, Bangladesh (at home), and the West Indies. However, the team also suffered defeats to New Zealand and in an away series against Bangladesh. Under his captaincy, Salman has scored 380 runs with three half-centuries and has also taken four wickets in T20Is.

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Unnati Madan

Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.