Pakistan’s squad shake-up sparks controversy and clarity
The omission of former captain Babar Azam from Pakistan’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has sparked a storm of reactions — from outrage among fans to sharp public criticism from cricketing greats. Yet behind the scenes, the national setup appears united in its messaging: Pakistan is moving forward with players better suited to the modern demands of T20 cricket.
A video of legendary cricketer Javed Miandad has gone viral on social media, in which he blasts the selection committee’s decision to leave Babar out of the squad, questioning their qualifications and instincts.
“Unko khud ko nahi pata. Unhone cricket kheli hai? Jo jis level pe cricket kheli hai, woh selection kar rahe hain Babar Azam ki. Usko kya nazar aayega? Babar Azam is a great player. Ups and downs hote hain. Cricket is like a radio — you have to catch the station. Jab aap wicket pe jaate ho, bowler aata hai, aap sochte ho – haan, main yeh kar sakta hoon.”
— Javed Miandad said in a video.
Words of Legendary Javed Miandad on Babar Azampic.twitter.com/RbG3VgPkVV
— Pakistan Cricket Team USA FC (@DoctorofCricket) August 17, 2025
Miandad’s remarks reflect the widespread shock over the absence of not just Babar Azam but also Mohammad Rizwan from the 17-member squad, which was announced on August 17 and will be led by Salman Ali Agha.
Hesson: “Players we have done exceptionally well”
Speaking at a press conference held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore following the squad announcement, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson offered a detailed explanation behind the decision to leave out Babar Azam — and the new T20 philosophy the team is embracing.
“There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate. Those are things he’s working really hard on.”
— Mike Hesson
“But at the moment the players we have, have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games (against Bangladesh and West Indies) and won three Player of the Match awards.”
According to Hesson, the decision wasn’t about legacy or sentiment, but performance impact — and that includes being proactive against spin-heavy attacks, particularly in subcontinental conditions.
“You want players who, when they score runs, have a huge impact on the outcome of the game — and that’s exactly what we ask from Saim and Fakhar as well.”
Babar’s path to return runs through BBL
While Hesson confirmed Babar is not part of Pakistan’s short-term T20 plans, he also made it clear the door is not shut. The head coach encouraged the 30-year-old to use his stint in Australia’s Big Bash League later this year as a proving ground to make a comeback.
“A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider.”
With Babar reportedly striking at 128 across all T20s this year — and dipping to 125 against spin — the management is prioritizing power hitters and high-strike-rate batters, particularly in the top and middle order. His strike rate of 101.67 in the last T20 World Cup also weighed against him.
Selection shaped by recent form, surface challenges
Hesson emphasized that the current group earned their places through recent success, including impressive performances on varied pitches against Bangladesh and West Indies.
“We were challenged with three different surfaces (in recent matches against Bangladesh and West Indies).”
“In Lahore, the surfaces were flat and the batting excelled. We went to Bangladesh where they were incredibly challenging and low-scoring games. Our top-order sets the game up. All the games we won the top order performed really well.”
“The third game in the West Indies, our openers put on 140 (138). We need that at a run rate that gets us ahead of the game. T20 is all about setting the game up and being ahead of the game all the time in case you get yourself out. From a batting point of view we’ve got a line-up that can continue to do that.”
Sharjah tri-series to serve as spin test before Asia Cup
Before launching their Asia Cup campaign, Pakistan will participate in a preparatory tri-series against Afghanistan and UAE in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7 — a crucial opportunity for Pakistan’s middle-order players to prove themselves in spin-heavy conditions.
“Yes, it will, and the fact we’re playing in Sharjah, which will be the most challenging conditions for facing spin. So, look, we’re aware of that, and that’s why your middle order is so critical, that not only can they rotate against spin, but they also can apply pressure. And that’s going to be a big challenge. You know, Afghanistan — you know, semi-finalists in the World Cup — they are a top side, let alone when you play them in Sharjah. So, we’re certainly not taking any of those games lightly, but in terms of preparation for the Asia Cup, we couldn’t wish for anything better — preparation for the T20 World Cup next year as well. So, yeah,” Mike Hesson added.
A generational shift — or temporary exile?
As Pakistan prepares for a challenging Asia Cup Group A featuring India, Oman, and the UAE, the absence of Babar Azam is both a tactical move and a symbolic shift in direction. While fans and legends like Miandad express frustration over the decision, the coaching staff appears focused on redefining Pakistan’s T20 identity — one built on aggressive intent and adaptability.
Whether Babar Azam returns for the T20 World Cup next year will now depend not on his past achievements, but on how quickly and convincingly he adapts to the demands of modern T20 cricket — starting with the Big Bash League.
