Ramiz Raja: “I stand with them (Babar and Rizwan), and they absolutely should be included”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has expressed his desire to see batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the T20I team going forward.
Azam and Rizwan previously opened the batting for the men in green in the shortest format, but were dropped amid concerns over their slow scoring.
Given the limited success of the players who replaced the duo, Ramiz feels Pakistan should give them another chance in T20Is.
“I stand with them (Babar and Rizwan), and they absolutely should be included,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
After missing the 2025 Asia Cup, Azam and Rizwan returned to play in Pakistan’s two-Test series against South Africa.
Azam amassed 131 runs, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
As for Rizwan, he made 126 runs, which included a top score of 75, at an average of 31.50.
Pakistan are now taking on South Africa in a three-match T20I series, which Azam was recalled for but Rizwan continued to be left out.
In the 1st T20I, Azam failed to have an impact as he was dismissed for a duck.
After the T20Is, the men in green and the Proteas will play three ODIs from November 4 to 8.
Subsequently, Pakistan will play Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, and then compete in a T20I tri-series alongside 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