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Fakhar Zaman Doubtful, Babar Azam To Make T20I Comeback In Asia Cup 2025: Report

Debashis Sarangi

Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam [Source: AFP]Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam [Source: AFP]

According to emerging reports, Pakistan's swashbuckling batter Fakhar Zaman is doubtful for the Asia Cup due to fitness concerns. The Pakistani team management is considering bringing Babar Azam back into the T20I side as Fakhar's replacement for the marquee event. 

Babar Frontrunner To Replace Injured Fakhar In Asia Cup

Babar Azam is statistically Pakistan's most successful batter in the T20I format. In 128 matches, Babar has amassed 4223 runs, including three hundreds and thirty-six fifties at an average of 39.8. However, his underwhelming returns in the T20 World Cup as well as the bilateral series against Australia and South Africa recently led to his ouster from the shortest format. 

But Babar's T20I career seems to be getting a new life, with Fakhar Zaman's injury likely to sideline him from the Asia Cup. As reported by Cricket Pakistan, the PCB has asked Fakhar to complete his rehabilitation at Lahore's National Cricket Academy, and there are chances that he might not get fully fit before the Asia Cup. 

In such a scenario, as the report claims, the Pakistani team management is considering roping Babar Azam in to the T20I setup. Given that he is vastly experienced and has performed for the team in the past, Babar has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Fakhar if he misses out on selection for the showpiece event. 

However, whether Babar Azam will make a T20I comeback or not will be determined by his performance in the upcoming ODI series against West Indies. Despite suffering a T20I ouster, Babar is still active in the ODI format. So, if he performs admirably in the three-match ODI leg, Babar could make a wildcard entry into Pakistan's Asia Cup squad. 

The right-handed batter had a torrid time with the bat the last time the Asia Cup was played in the T20 format. He managed 68 runs across six innings at a horrible average of 11.33.