Pakistan’s star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has reacted to the exclusion of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the national squad for the Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.
Addressing media in Dubai during Pakistan’s preparatory camp ahead of the upcoming fixtures, Shaheen said that “Tomorrow I might not be playing either. It’s not necessary that I ask why I’m not playing. Everyone should get opportunities,” he said.
“Rizwan and Babar are world-class players and have played excellent cricket for Pakistan, and they will play in the future as well,” Shaheen remarked.
“Everyone gets an opportunity, and they should seize those chances. I think the more we support our youngsters, the better. We shouldn’t criticize them, saying, “They are new, they haven’t done anything yet.”
PCB’s selection committee has just announced the squad for the Pak-Afg-UAE Tri-Series and the Asia Cup, scheduled to take place from August 29 to September 28. Salman Ali Agha’s led team features a number of fresh faces, but some prominent seniors failed to get the selectors’ attention. The fast-bowling department contains seasoned players Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf. Muhammad Nawaz has also been given a go alongside the spin duo of Abrar Ahmad and Sufyan Moqim.
Although there is only one big name missing from the bowling unit — Naseem Shah — it’s the batting lineup that has raised several eyebrows, and social media has been abuzz since the team was announced. Fakhar, Saim and Farhan have been picked as the openers, while the middle order will feature Salman Ali Agha, Hassan Nawaz, M. Haris, Hussain Talat, and only one pinch hitter, Khushdil Shah. Overall, the batting lineup looks really thin on paper.
The main question being asked by Pakistani fans is whether Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan should have been included in the squad for the Asia Cup. Both cricket fans and pundits are divided on the exclusion of these players from the team.
Babar Azam
Babar made his T20I debut in 2016 and has since performed well in the short format. He has scored 4223 runs in 128 matches at an average of 39.83 and a strike rate of 129.22. Initially, he was slated at the number 3 position in the batting lineup, but after his promotion to the top of the order, he made this position his own and scored most of his runs there. Because of his consistent performances, he reached the top of the T20I batting ranking in November 2018.
Muhammad Rizwan
Muhammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batsman, has been one of the top performers in T20 cricket in the past few years. He has come a long way from his early days when he wasn’t deemed fit to play for Karachi Kings in the PSL because he “could not hit a six”. These controversial comments by Imad Wasim, the then captain of KK, have resonated in cricketing circles for years. After taking Multan Sultans to three consecutive PSL finals and winning the title with them on the first try, Rizwan gave a befitting response to all his doubters.
Babar Azam absence will dent Asia Cup viewership and sponsorships
