Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad slammed the national selectors for leaving out star player Babar Azam from the team’s Asia Cup squad. The elegant right-hander remained absent from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the subcontinental event to be held in September in the UAE.
Babar Azam who hasn’t featured in the shortest format since December 2024, has been speculated to have been dropped for his attritional approach and slow going in the middle. Despite possessing great solidity, the 30-year-old’s late acceleration and an ordinary career strike rate of 129.22 have plagued Pakistan on several occasions which forced the rest of the batters to take extra risks and ultimately led to under-par scores and totals on the board.
Javed Miandad’s Blunt Take on Babar Azam’s Exclusion.Â
Javed Miandad, however, put his weight behind the class player to overcome his blues and force his way back into the reckoning. The legendary player hammered the selectors for ignoring Babar as he claimed they lacked cricketing experience and know-how to judge the talent correctly.
Speaking during a media interaction, a furious Miandad said: “They have no idea, have they even played cricket? At the level they have played, how are they eligible to select Babar and what eyes do they have?” Babar Azam is a great player. There are ups and down in the game. Cricket is like a radio- you have to catch the station. A batter has plenty to think when he walks in the middle and responds accordingly.”Â
Babar Azam’s Dip in Performance Over the Last 2 Years.Â
Babar Azam has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism and scrutiny over the last two years as he has undergone a prolonged phase without a century at the international stage. The former Pakistan skipper has now gone on and played 72 innings across Tests, ODIs and T20Is since he last produced a hundred in the top-level game. Babar’s most recent 100+ score came against emerging cricket nation Nepal in August 2023 at the beginning of that year’s 50-over Asia Cup.
While Javed Miandad is entitled to his views and supporting Babar Azam, the numbers don’t lie. Babar has been in wretched form and has had a drought which is unimaginable for a great talent and player like Babar. To go almost two years without a century across formats is unheard of. Yes, Virat Kohli too had a lean patch but it was not like the one Babar is facing today.
Mike Hesson has made it clear the areas Babar needs to work on and that is strike rate and power hitting and has not ruled him out of T20 set up totally. Babar needs to find form and improve on the areas he needs to get better at. It’s just not centuries but ability to have multiple shots at your disposal. Mike Hesson has categorically said that if Babar has a great BBL and improves on his weaknesses then his comeback to the T20 World Cup 2026 squad is not ruled out. But he needs to go back to the grind and put in performances.
Pakistan are used to superstar cultures and making players like Gods and kings much like India. But in order to do well, performances will have to count and Babar’s performances has been underwhelming across all formats. So, he needs to go back to the drawing board and come back stronger with better showings with bat in hand. If he can do that in BBL playing for Adelaide Strikers, then he can be back in the reckoning to play in the sub-continent. Hesson has made it clear that players will be picked on performances not just reputation.
We shall wait and see if Babar makes a comeback in T20 World Cup squad but he is out of the Asia Cup squad and that is a reality Pakistan needs to live with it. The Pakistan legends should come out of their shelves and support the team that has been chosen for the Asia Cup 2025 rather than talking about Babar’s exclusion. Asia Cup promises to be a thrilling event for all involved.
Also Read:Â Asia Cup 2025: Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan Axe From T20Is