PCB Chairman Naqvi says Babar and Rizwan ‘play no role’ in excluding them from Asia Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stunned many when it announced its 17-member squad for the upcoming UAE tri-series and Asia Cup 2025 without star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Amid speculation, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has clarified that the decision was purely the work of the selectors.

“First of all, I do not have even 1 percent role in adding or dropping players,” Naqvi told reporters on Saturday.

We have a selection committee and then an advisory body, they all sit together. The process goes through a lot - discussions that last for 8-10 hours, sometimes for 2-3 days. Certainly, if a team is being selected, it is in good hands, all professionals are present. I have only told them that whatever decision they take, it should be on merit and I will support it.

The Asia Cup squad seems to be more focused on power hitters, with Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman expected to be given the top-order responsibilities. Neither Babar nor Rizwan have featured in a T20 International since December 2024.

Highlighting the long-term vision, Naqvi added, "Whatever lot was available, I polished it and took it forward. Now our effort is to bring in as many new players as possible so that there is more competition in cricket and the best of the best can come forward."

Meanwhile, head coach Mike Hesson explained the call, saying that Babar was asked to improve in "a few areas", including his strike rate and playing against spin.

Hesson said that the players we have at the moment (have) performed exceptionally. "But certainly a player like Babar has a chance to play in the BBL and he starts to show that he is improving in those areas in T20. He is such a good player that we will not consider him."