Pakistan batsman Babar Azam: “Only the selectors and coaches can answer what they’re thinking about my T20 career. My job is to perform – whether it’s in T20s, ODIs, or Tests. Selection is not in my control”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Babar Azam said only the selectors and coaches can provide an answer on why he continues to be overlooked for T20Is.
Azam’s last match in the shortest format came against South Africa in December 2024.
Even though he had a solid campaign while captaining the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), the 30-year-old was left out of Pakistan’s team for their three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which the men in green won 3-0.
Many believe Azam’s removal from the T20I squad is due to his low strike-rate. Whether that’s true is unclear as Azam was informed that he is “being rested from T20Is”.
Finding himself facing an uncertain future in the format, the Lahore native noted that he will do his best to get back in the team, but insisted he can’t control the selectors’ decisions.
“Only the selectors and coaches can answer what they’re thinking about my T20 career. My job is to perform – whether it’s in T20s, ODIs, or Tests. Selection is not in my control. As long as Allah wills, I will continue to play. We were informed that we were being rested from T20Is – now let’s see what they decide,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Mirpur from July 20 to 24.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufiyan Muqeem
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