‘Enough chances’: T20 cricket’s greatest opening duo has been axed … but BBL audition looms

The Asia Cup is underway in the United Arab Emirates this week, but two of Pakistan’s most famous cricketers won’t be involved.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, arguably the nation’s greatest white-ball cricketer, was not selected for the Asia Cup campaign, having made his most recent T20I appearance in December last year. The 30-year-old, along with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, was also downgraded to a Category B contract for the 2025/26 season.

The PCB’s decision to name a youthful, inexperienced squad at Azam’s expense is significant – not only has he led Pakistan in all three formats, but he is one of the sport’s most popular athletes, with a status akin to fellow superstar Virat Kohli in India. He has more Instagram followers than Steve Smith, Travis Head and Mitchell Starc combined.

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The talented right-hander is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in men’s T20Is – and second overall behind Indian legend Rohit Sharma – having accumulated 4223 runs at 39.83 across 128 matches. He was crowned the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and named the ICC’s Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022.

However, his performances in the game’s shortest format have dwindled, possessing a T20I strike rate of 112.99 since the start of last year’s T20 World Cup. At a time when T20 cricket is leaning further towards high-tempo cricket, his tentativeness became a source of frustration for Pakistan.

Most runs among men’s T20I opening partnerships

2522 – Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (PAK)

1743 – Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma (IND)

1607 – Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka (SL)

1576 – Kevin O’Brien, Paul Stirling (IRE)

“Calling them key players would be wrong and unfair,” former Pakistan teammate Mohammad Hafeez said of Azam and Rizwan on his YouTube channel.

“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not Pakistan cricket’s key players at the moment. Key players are those who win matches for Pakistan.

“Both were good in the past, but now they are not delivering results.”

Azam and Rizwan opened the batting together in the three most recent editions of the T20 World Cup, leading Pakistan towards the final on Australian soil in 2022. They have eight century stands in T20Is, four more than the next best partnership.

But the combined strike rate of Rizwan and Azam in T20Is since the start of 2023 was 135.67, considerably lower than the likes of Australia (164.33), England (165.67) and South Africa (154.50) during that period.

Runs are currency, and reputation can’t keep you in the starting XI forever.

“(Pakistan) have to make sure they got off to a great start,” former Australian bowler Brett Lee told Fox Sports’ The Follow-On Podcast ahead of the Asia Cup, adding he thought the exclusion of Azam and Rizwan was “surprising”.

“That’s a reason why coach (Mike) Hesson has gone, ‘I actually want some explosive power at the top. I don’t want to have a guy that plays the anchor role. This is T20 cricket now.’

“Babar Azam, Rizwan, despite how good they are at the top, that’s more a 50-over play. They want some young players.

“Whichever team they put on the park first up, the top four is an explosive top four. They have to go super hard in the first six overs.”

The response to Azam’s omission drew a mixed response from Pakistan fans – some argued the national side would miss his experience at the top of the order, while others were irked by his scoring tempo.

However, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has challenged Azam to boost his strike rate and develop his batting against spin, opening the door for his potential return ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in the subcontinent.

“There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate. Those are things he’s working really hard on,” Hesson told reporters last month.

“But at the moment, the players we have have done exceptionally well.”

Asked to elaborate on Azam’s shortcomings, Hesson told reporters on Thursday: “What I have alluded to is the way the modern game is played and the strike rates required, particularly in good conditions. All players ask for from coaches is to be honest with them. That is the responsibility you’ve got.

“Just because you like a player or have a relationship with a player, it doesn’t mean you can’t be honest.”

In June, the Sydney Sixers signed Azam for the upcoming edition of the Big Bash League, where he is expected to be available for the entire tournament, including finals. The club’s Instagram post announcing his deal accumulated 449,000 likes and 5.3 million views.

Rizwan will also make his maiden Big Bash appearance this summer, picked up by the Melbourne Renegades during the recent BBL Draft.

The Australian competition looms as the duo’s final audition ahead of the T20 World Cup, with Hesson hinting that Azam and Rizwan would earn a recall if they showed signs of improvement in the Big Bash.

“A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s,” Hesson continued.

“He’s too good a player not to consider.”

Following a period of tinkering with its starting XI, Pakistan has settled on an opening partnership of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan for the Asia Cup.

The new-look top order has seemingly paid off, with Pakistan winning 11 of their 17 most recent T20Is, including series wins against Bangladesh and the West Indies. More recently, the nation won a tri-series tournament against Afghanistan and hosts the UAE, thumping Rashid Khan’s men in the final by 75 runs.

Pakistan’s T20I win rate of 58 per cent this year is a drastic improvement to 36 per cent in 2023 and 33 per cent in 2024. The team is trending in the right direction.

“They have given enough chances to Babar and Rizwan as openers for four or five years,” Pakistan legend Wasim Akram said on Thursday.

“They did well, but not as well, not as consistently, and hence the new boys.

“Babar is not there, Rizwan is not there. I think the idea was to move on from them, to go to these youngsters.”

Last month, captain Salman Ali Agha smirked when a reporter suggested Pakistan was no longer the second-best cricket nation in Asia considering Afghanistan’s recent success in ICC events. They have an opportunity in the Asia Cup to set the record straight.

And if Pakistan succeeds at the Asia Cup, a trophy they haven’t won since 2012, Azam and Rizwan may struggle to earn a recall ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.

“I want Babar to be in (the) T20 (team),” Akram continued.

“Just think about him because against stronger sides, if you’re going to chase 150 or 160 on a pitch like this or in any slightly dodgy wicket, it’ll be difficult. You have to change your game a bit. Maybe (he) will be useful.”

Additional reporting from Courtney Walsh

Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad

Salman Agha (captain), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasimsh

Pakistan’s Asia Cup Fixtures

All times local

September 12 vs Oman, 7.30pm in Dubai

September 14 vs India, 7:30pm in Dubai

September 17 vs UAE, 7:30pm in Dubai