• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Not My Call Pcb Chief Distances Himself From Babar Azam Rizwans Asia Cup Exclusion

"Not My Call": PCB Chief Distances Himself From Babar Azam, Rizwan's Asia Cup Exclusion

Akshita Patel

Mohsin Naqvi opens up on Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan's snub [Source: @dhillow_, @RawCricketTalks/X.com]Mohsin Naqvi opens up on Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan's snub [Source: @dhillow_, @RawCricketTalks/X.com]

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped senior stars Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam from the Asia Cup squad in what came as a shock to fans. With fingers pointing at the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, the boss clarified his stand, saying he had no role in the selection.

Babar and Rizwan have been struggling with form and stability for years now. In the last 3-4 ICC events, the duo failed to pull off a single impactful knock that could lead Pakistan to victory.

Considering the team’s falling standards and repeated humiliating losses, PCB decided to reform the T20I squad by infusing youth talent.

Mohsin Naqvi Backs Pakistan’s Merit-Based Selection For Asia Cup

For the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, Pakistan dropped Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I squad, with Salman Agha taking over as captain of a young team.

With fans displeased over the decision, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi clarified that he had not even a 1% role at all in dropping Babar and Rizwan. Talking to reporters at an event, he explained that the selectors and advisory committee made the final call after long discussions lasting 8 to 10 hours, sometimes even 2 to 3 days.

“I do not even have a 1%role in the team selection. We have a selection committee and then an advisory body; they all sit together. The process goes through a lot. Discussions that last 8–10 hours, sometimes for 2–3 days. Definitely, if a team is being selected, it’s in good hands; all professionals are there. I’ve only told them one thing, whatever decision they take, it should be on merit, and I will support that," Naqvi said.

According to him, all decisions were taken purely on merit and with Pakistan’s long-term goals in mind.

If Not Naqvi, Then Who Dropped Babar-Rizwan?

Interestingly, newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson is believed to have played a huge role in sidelining Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s T20I set-up. 

He previously urged Babar to work on his strike rate and batting against spin if he wants to return to the T20 setup. Hesson noted Babar’s strike rate of 129 is modest for modern T20 demands and advised him to use the Big Bash League to sharpen his game.

However, with Babar unable to improve, Hesson decided to move on and continue grooming the young stars.