Moin Khan: “Look at the strike-rates of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan compared to those replacing them. See their performances and number of games too. This is pure injustice”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan cannot understand why batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were not selected in T20Is for such a long period of time when those who replaced them have similar strike-rates.
Azam and Rizwan used to open the batting in the shortest format, but both of them were criticised for scoring too slowly.
With Pakistan prioritising a more attacking brand of cricket, Moin observed that the batsmen called up to replace the duo haven’t been any more aggressive than they were.
Azam and Rizwan missed the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore, the tour of Bangladesh, the T20I series against the West Indies, the T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan, and the 2025 Asia Cup.
Moin condemned it as “pure injustice” and urged for the prompt recall of both players to the T20I team.
“Look at the strike-rates of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan compared to those replacing them. See their performances and number of games too. This is pure injustice,” he was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam and Rizwan recently played in the two-Test series against South Africa, with the former scoring 131 runs, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
As for Rizwan, he struck 126 runs, which included a top score of 75, at an average of 31.50.
Azam has been recalled for the upcoming three-match T20I series against the Proteas, which will be held from October 28 to November 1, but Rizwan failed to make the cut.
After the T20Is, Pakistan and South Africa will play three ODIs between November 4 and 8.
Following the South Africa series, Pakistan will go up against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15 before participating in a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
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