'Babar shouldn’t have been dropped,’ says former Pakistan captain

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has questioned the decision to drop Babar Azam from the national T20I squad, especially with the Asia Cup and ICC T20 World Cup fast approaching.

In an interview with a local sports platform, Afridi was asked about Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s future in the national T20 setup. He responded by highlighting the importance of both strike rate and consistency in T20 cricket.

“I believe if strike rate is the concern, then even the new players should be performing better. Babar had a similar strike rate to them,” Afridi said.

The 48-year-old expressed his disappointment at Babar’s exclusion, saying the team needs players who can consistently perform under pressure.

“Babar is a reliable batter. Whenever he walks onto the field, there’s an expectation that he will score runs. Dropping him doesn’t make sense, especially when he was playing at a similar strike rate as the newer players,” he added.

Afridi also stressed that if younger players are being given opportunities, they must show consistency and deliver strong performances.

Despite being Pakistan’s all-time leading run-scorers in T20Is, both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan haven’t played a T20I since December 13, 2024.

Earlier, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha had also spoken about the senior players’ role in the team. While addressing the media during a training camp last month, Agha said Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi remain an important part of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup plans.

“They are our senior players and part of the core group of 25. We are working on building strong bench strength, but these players continue to be central to our strategy,” Agha stated.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will take place next year in India and Sri Lanka.