Mohammad Hafeez: “I would still say today that this team definitely needs three players: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Naseem Shah”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez thinks fast bowler Naseem Shah and batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should definitely be in the T20I team.
All three of them have missed many of Pakistan’s recent T20I assignments, including the 2025 Asia Cup.
However, Azam and Naseem have been recalled for the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa.
Rizwan, on the other hand, continued to be left out even though Hafeez thought he should replace Mohammad Haris as the first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman.
“I would still say today that this team definitely needs three players: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Naseem Shah,” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
“First, they should be properly consulted, and things should be explained to them in the right way. Babar definitely has a place in this team, I’ve said it before as well, that without him, this is an incomplete team.
“Babar must be in this team, Naseem Shah must also be in this team, and thirdly, since Haris has not yet been able to adjust at the international level, Rizwan should take his place.
“The way to get performances, the way to utilise players, that is for the management to decide. But if we include these three players in our team, we will have a better chance to perform in any given condition against any opposition.”
Pakistan just finished playing a two-Test series against South Africa, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
The T20I series will be held between October 28 and November 1 before both sides face each other in three ODIs from November 4 to 8.
After the South Africa series, Pakistan will play a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka 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
[TS_Poll id=”27″]