Babar Azam, Rizwan left out as Pakistan announce squad for New Zealand tour
Pakistan’s decision to drop star batter Babar Azam from their T20I squad has sparked widespread debate in the cricketing fraternity, with his father, Azam Siddique, responding strongly to critics. Following Pakistan’s disappointing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, Babar is facing one of the most challenging phases of his career. His father took to Instagram to express his disapproval of his omission from the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
The coach expressed confidence in Babar’s ability to make a strong comeback through domestic performances in the National T20 Cup and the PSL. As well as warning former cricketers to choose their words carefully when criticizing Babar, he hinted at potential consequences for unwarranted comments.
Despite Siddique’s confidence, Babar’s recent form has been underwhelming, with no significant scores since his 151-run knock against Nepal in the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023. The Pakistani squads for the New Zealand tour reflect a strategic shift, with Salman Ali Agha as T20I captain and Shadab Khan as vice-captain. As announced by head coach Aqib Javed, the decision aims to build a team for upcoming major tournaments, such as the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
In addition to Akif Javed, who has been selected for the ODI team, three uncapped players are included in the T20I squad – Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali. A medical condition prevented Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub from being considered for selection. Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as the batting coach in place of Aqib Javed as interim head coach.
Babar Azam stressed his commitment to perform in all formats and adapt to team needs when asked about his T20 future. As he defended his playing style against criticism of his strike rate, he stressed his flexibility and dedication to Pakistan’s success. Despite the challenges, Babar remains focused on learning from his experiences and striving for excellence.
Finally, Babar ended on a humble note, saying that he prefers to let his cricket speak for itself. “Even when I was ranked number one, I wasn’t satisfied. The more I do for Pakistan, the more I want to do.”
