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"Not Suitable For T20": Ex-Coach On Why Pakistan Can’t Rely On Babar Azam, Rizwan

Akshita Patel

Mickey Arthur's take on Babar Azam-Rizwan's snub [Source: @ahsan_shah90/X.com]Mickey Arthur's take on Babar Azam-Rizwan's snub [Source: @ahsan_shah90/X.com]

The future of Pakistan’s most reliable batting duo, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, is under serious question after they were dropped from the Asia Cup 2025 squad. Now, former head coach Mickey Arthur has suggested the duo doesn’t fit into the modern-day T20I setup.

The duo, who once built Pakistan’s batting on their consistency and partnerships, are now facing criticism for being too slow in the powerplay overs. 

While their style of settling in before attacking worked in the past, many experts now feel it does not match the pace of modern T20 cricket, where teams expect 50-60 runs in the first six overs.

Mickey Arthur Drops Babar & Rizwan Out Of Modern T20 Equation

Speaking on a local TV show with Ary News, former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur admitted that while Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are fine cricketers, the modern T20 format has moved beyond their natural style of play.

He explained that today’s T20 cricket demands fast starts, fearless hitting, and aggressive intent right from the first ball, something the duo’s cautious approach doesn’t always provide.

"Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are good players, but cricket has changed, they are not suitable for T20. T20 cricket today demands a very different approach. The kind of game Babar and Rizwan want to play requires personnel who can fully execute their vision — and right now, Pakistan needs different tools,” Arthur said.

Arthur, who once guided Pakistan to the No.1 T20 ranking with Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain, hinted that the team’s current management under Mike Hesson is right to look for new options. 

Since Hesson took charge, Babar and Rizwan have been missing from every squad, replaced by younger and more explosive openers like Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, and Sahibzada Farhan.

After Asia Cup Snub, Babar-Rizwan Demoted In Central Contract List

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have faced another major setback after their demotion to Category B in the PCB's recent central contracts. Their repeated failures at grand tournaments such as the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy resulted in the demotion, signalling a decline in their standing. 

Though both are amongst Pakistan's most seasoned batsmen, their slow approach and lack of strike rate in T20s have been the subject of much criticism. Interestingly, PCB has placed zero players in Category A contracts, another indication of their cricket's plight.