Pakistan Coach Criticizes Babar Azam, Explains Asia Cup 2025 Snub

Quick Summary

• Pakistan’s white-ball head coach,Mike Hesson,explained Babar Azam’s omission from the Asia Cup 2025 squad,citing weaknesses in his game against spin and a need for a better strike rate.
• Babar Azam was also excluded from recent T20I series against West Indies and Bangladesh.
• The Pakistan Cricket Board announced a 17-man squad for the asia Cup 2025, with both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan missing out.
• Salman Ali Agha has been named captain for the tournament. Fakhar Zaman returns post-injury to strengthen the team.
• Coach Hesson suggested that Babar could perhaps play in leagues like Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) to improve his skills for future T20I selection. He called Babar “too good” a player not to consider again after improvement.
• Pakistan will participate in a tri-series with UAE and Afghanistan before heading into the Asia Cup tournament.

Indian Opinion Analysis
Babar Azam’s exclusion from Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad comes across as a significant decision, reflecting how performance metrics remain integral to modern cricketing decisions irrespective of reputation or past performances. Coach Mike Hesson’s candid commentary regarding specific areas of improvement-spin-handling and strike rate-aligns with current trends emphasizing adaptability in various conditions required by white-ball cricket formats.

For India, this growth underscores key considerations ahead of hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 alongside Sri Lanka: balancing talent-driven selections against form-dependent ones while respecting match readiness remains crucial for competitive edge on home turf conditions.Read More