Babar and Rizwan's omission from the continental showpiece has stirred a debate.
Veteran batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were left out of Pakistan’s 17-member T20I squad announced for the Asia Cup 2025 last week.
In the squad announcement presser, PCB chief selector Aqib Javed offered blunt take on Babar and Rizwan's omission from the continental showpiece, citing that they need work on their weak areas for a comeback.
Now, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has broken his silence on the experienced duo’s snub from the lineup, saying he doesn't have a say in the matter as the final call remains with the selection committee.
Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan in the Asia Cup, slated to get underway on September 9 in the UAE. The Men in Green are slotted in Group A alongside India, UAE and Oman.
The PCB continues to draw flak for sidelining Babar and Rizwan despite the team's mixed results without them in the shortest format. The pair was shown the door from the T20I team earlier this year.
“First of all, I don’t have even 1 per cent role in putting players into the team or taking them out. We have a selection committee and then an advisory body; they all sit together. The process goes through a lot — discussions that last 8–10 hours, sometimes for 2–3 days,” Naqvi told local reporters, as quoted by TOI.
“Definitely, if a team is being selected, it’s in good hands; all professionals are there. I’ve only told them one thing — whatever decision they take, it should be on merit, and I will support that,” he added.
Pakistan will open their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against Oman at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 12, while their marquee clash with India is scheduled for September 14.
Pakistan's squad for Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim.