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Babar Azam, Rizwan No Longer Enough As Haris Calls for Juniors To Take Over Pakistan

Akshita Patel

Mohammad Haris' take on Babar, Rizwan's exclusion [Source: @CallMeSheri1_, @dhillow_/X.com]Mohammad Haris' take on Babar, Rizwan's exclusion [Source: @CallMeSheri1_, @dhillow_/X.com]

Pakistan cricket is undergoing a transition phase in the T20I format, with seniors Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan being sidelined due to persistent poor form. Moreover, Mohammad Haris has now supported the decision, saying the duo should set a precedent by willingly making space for youngsters to grow.

The selectors recently left Babar and Rizwan out of Pakistan’s T20I squad for the upcoming UAE-Afghanistan tri-series and the Asia Cup, choosing instead to back aggressive players like Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, and Fakhar Zaman. 

Mohammad Haris Backs Pakistan’s Youth Infusion

Interestingly, former captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan haven’t featured in T20Is since December 2024 against South Africa, despite being two of Pakistan’s most consistent batters in the past. 

Amid this, Pakistan’s batter, Mohammad Haris, has not only mocked Babar but also urged both seniors to make way for youngsters, as their prime appears over. 

"No doubt, Babar and Rizwan have delivered many performances for Pakistan, but when you want to set a benchmark, you need to give chances to the juniors," Haris said.

Talking to Mohammad Kamil Khan, Haris also stated that Babar needs to “play fast” in T20 cricket.

"Babar Azam needs to play fast in T20," he added.

Babar’s overall T20I numbers are impressive, as he has scored 4,223 runs in 128 matches, averaging nearly 40 with three centuries and 36 fifties. But his strike rate of 129 has often been questioned.

Critics believe he has not adapted to the new power-hitting standards of T20 cricket, where strike rates above 140–150 are increasingly common.

His recent form has been mixed. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he struggled to make an impact, and in bilateral series against Australia and South Africa, his slow scoring rate proved costly. 

However, he showed glimpses of his class in the PSL 2025, scoring 56*, 53*, and 94 for Peshawar Zalmi. Still, his strike rate remained a talking point.

Interestingly, Pakistan’s new head coach, Mike Hesson, also stressed the same issue when asked about sidelining Babar Azam. He said the veteran batter can only make a comeback into the T20I format if he adjusts his strike rate to modern-day standards.