‘If team is being selected…’: PCB chairman addresses Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan’s exclusion from Asia Cup squad

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam. (Photo: ICC)

Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), finally spoke up over the exclusion of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the team's 17-man Asia Cup squad. He stated that the selection committee has the ultimate say in the matter and that he has no influence over the decision.

Despite losing the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, Pakistan's selectors recently shocked everyone by leaving out the two experienced pros from the squad.

Head coach Mike Hesson and chief selector Aqib Javed said during the team announcement that the two players have been instructed to enhance their game and strike rate.

Salman Ali Agha will lead Pakistan at the Asia Cup starting on September 9. The team is placed with Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and India in Group A.

Despite the team's inconsistent performance in the shortest format without Babar and Rizwan, the PCB is still criticized for their exclusion. Following the Champions Trophy, the two batters were dropped from the T20I team, and they are still in exile.

“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, according to the Times of India.

“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.

Selector Aqib Javed made it apparent when he announced the Pakistan team for the Asia Cup that Babar and Rizwan had received instructions from the management on how to come back into the T20 team.

He claimed that if the two perform well in domestic games, they can regain their spot and that they will have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves in international contests.

Without holding back, Javed said that the squad has overlooked the duo since they now have better players than them in T20 cricket.

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.