Pakistan just dropped Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from their Asia Cup squad. Yes, you read that right – both of them. Gone. Not injured, not rested, just… out.
I’ve been following Pakistan cricket for years, and this might be the most shocking selection decision I’ve seen. These aren’t fringe players we’re talking about. Babar’s been their captain, their anchor, their go-to guy when things get tough. Rizwan? The man’s practically been glued to that wicket-keeping spot.
What Actually Happened Here?
So here’s what we know. Mike Hesson basically told everyone that Babar needs to hit the ball harder and play spin better. Fair enough – we’ve all watched him struggle against quality spinners. But dropping him entirely? That’s like Manchester United benching their striker because he missed a few chances.
The weird part is both guys were decent in the PSL. Babar got 288 runs for Peshawar Zalmi – not spectacular, but solid. Rizwan was actually better with 367 runs for Multan Sultans. Their strike rates weren’t terrible either. So this isn’t about form, it’s about… what exactly?
Maybe the selectors watched too many T20 highlights and decided they needed more boundary-hitters. Or perhaps they’re trying to shake things up before the World Cup in 2026. Either way, it’s a massive gamble.
Salman Agha Gets His Shot
At least Salman Agha becoming captain makes sense. The guy’s been quietly doing his job all year, and honestly, sometimes you need someone without all the baggage. He won’t have the media constantly asking him about his strike rate or whether he should be opening the batting.
He’ll get some practice runs in the UAE tri-series before the real stuff starts. Smart move, actually.
Who’s Actually Playing Then?
The squad isn’t complete garbage, thankfully. Fakhar Zaman is back from his hamstring problems, and when Fakhar’s on song, he can single-handedly win you games. Remember that Champions Trophy final? Different format, but still.
They’ve thrown in Salman Mirza as a left-arm seamer – never heard of him before this, which either means he’s a hidden gem or they’re really scraping the barrel. Mohammad Wasim gets another chance too.
At least Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are still around. These two can bowl teams out on their own when they’re in the mood. They’ll need to be, given the batting looks a bit experimental.
The India Match is Going to Be Mental
September 10th, Dubai. Pakistan vs India without Babar and Rizwan.
I can already imagine the pressure on whoever opens the batting. Walking out there knowing millions of people are watching, knowing you’re playing in place of established stars, knowing one bad shot and you’ll get roasted on social media for weeks.
The bowling might actually give India some trouble though. Shaheen loves these big occasions, and if he gets the ball swinging early, even India’s batting lineup can look ordinary.
New Faces, New Chances
Sahibzada Farhan seems to be the guy everyone’s watching. Three player-of-the-match awards in six games is pretty impressive, even if it’s not at the highest level yet. This is his chance to prove he belongs.
The problem with Pakistan cricket is that talent alone isn’t enough. You need to handle pressure, deal with the media circus, cope with everyone having an opinion about your technique. Some players thrive on it; others crumble.
My Take on This Whole Mess
Look, I get what they’re trying to do. Maybe Babar and Rizwan had gotten too comfortable. Perhaps the team needed a shock to the system. In theory, it could work.
But in practice? This feels like the kind of decision that either looks brilliant in six months or gets everyone fired. There’s no middle ground with Pakistan cricket – it’s either genius or disaster, never anything in between.
The Asia Cup will tell us which one this is. Part of me is excited to see what happens when you remove the safety net. Part of me thinks this could go very badly, very quickly.
For the latest updates, expert insights, and everything you need to know about the Asia Cup 2025, stay tuned to cricketbettingtips.org. We’ve got all the match predictions and analysis to keep you ahead of the game.