In what is being seen as a dramatic yet calculated shift in Pakistan cricket’s short-format strategy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has indicated that senior stars Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi may no longer be part of its T20I plans, effectively ending an era that defined Pakistan’s batting and bowling core over the past half-decade.
PCB’s Candid Statement Shakes The Cricketing Circuit
During an interaction with select media on Monday, a senior PCB official reportedly stated:
“We see Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen as ODI team players now. It’s time to build a T20I team with a different approach.”
This no-nonsense remark comes weeks after Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, where their outdated batting approach and inconsistent bowling drew widespread criticism.
Implications For Babar, Rizwan, And Shaheen
| Player | Age | T20I Stats | Likely Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 29 | 119 matches, 4023 runs @ 41.0 | ODI captaincy remains intact; focus will shift to anchoring Pakistan’s top order in ODIs and Tests. |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 32 | 90 matches, 3184 runs @ 47.2 | May be retained as ODI wicketkeeper-batter while PCB looks for younger T20I keeper-batters. |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 24 | 64 matches, 88 wickets @ 21.5 | Remains frontline pacer in ODIs and Tests; could play selective T20I games if needed. |
PCB insiders argue that the trio’s conservative strike rate approach is better suited to 50-over cricket, while modern T20 demands explosive batting line-ups and specialist death bowling options, especially with the emergence of hard-hitting players in PSL and domestic circuits.
Why This Decision Was Made
Analysts believe multiple factors triggered the PCB’s firm stand:
- Underwhelming T20 World Cup Campaign
- Pakistan’s early group-stage exit exposed their batting rigidity, with Babar and Rizwan criticised for their slow starts.
- Shaheen’s bowling, while effective in patches, lacked variety in crucial death overs.
- Changing T20I Dynamics Globally
- Teams like Australia, England, and India deploy dynamic openers with power-hitting abilities, a gap Pakistan struggled to fill with Babar-Rizwan partnerships.
- Emergence Of Young Talent
- Players like Saim Ayub, Azam Khan, and Mohammad Haris are viewed as aggressive alternatives for T20I rebuilds.
- Workload Management
- With Shaheen’s recurrent injury concerns, PCB is keen to preserve him for ODIs and Tests where his role is irreplaceable.
Reaction From Pakistan Cricket Community
Experts Weigh In
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said:
“If the board wants to revamp T20 cricket, bold decisions are needed. But these players have given their best. Management must ensure transitions don’t create rifts in the team environment.”
Ex-PCB selector Mohsin Khan added:
“Rizwan and Babar are ODI gems. But in T20s, Pakistan needs fearless hitters from ball one. The world has moved on from anchor-heavy T20 batting.”
Fans React On Social Media
- “Babar and Rizwan made us world no.1 in T20I rankings once. They deserve respect even if dropped.”
- “Finally PCB woke up. Strike rate matters more than average in T20.”
- “Shaheen should play all formats. He is irreplaceable in death overs.”
Comparative Strike Rates: Why PCB Wants Change
| Player | Career T20I Strike Rate | Global Benchmark (Top T20I Openers) |
|---|---|---|
| Babar Azam | 129 | 145+ |
| Mohammad Rizwan | 128 | 140+ |
| Phil Salt (ENG) | 157 | |
| Travis Head (AUS) | 148 | |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal (IND) | 160 |
Source: ESPN Cricinfo Statsguru, July 2025
The table clearly shows that while Babar and Rizwan maintain excellent averages, their strike rates lag behind modern T20I standards, often putting pressure on Pakistan’s middle order to accelerate within limited balls remaining.
What This Means For Pakistan’s T20I Future
PCB is expected to:
- Groom Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris as permanent T20I openers.
- Strengthen the middle order with finishers like Azam Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed.
- Build a death bowling unit around Haris Rauf and emerging pacers like Mohammad Wasim Jr.
- Appoint a T20I coach focusing on fearless batting templates similar to England’s ‘Bazball’ revolution.
Upcoming Series And Squad Announcements
Pakistan is slated to play:
- A five-match T20I series against Bangladesh in September 2025.
- Bilateral T20I fixtures against Australia and New Zealand before the Champions Trophy 2025, where selectors are likely to announce a youthful squad with minimal overlaps with the ODI core.
Will Babar, Rizwan, And Shaheen Retire From T20Is?
While PCB has not officially dropped them, the messaging indicates:
- Voluntary retirement or stepping aside from T20Is could be encouraged to ensure a smooth rebuild process without public controversies.
- PCB insiders suggest Babar and Rizwan might continue in the PSL to maintain form and commercial value but may not feature in national T20I squads unless exceptional form forces a rethink.
Conclusion
The PCB’s bold call to redefine its T20I roadmap by moving away from its dependable trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi marks a generational shift. It signals Pakistan’s intent to adopt an aggressive, fearless brand of cricket suited to modern T20 demands while prioritising workload management and format specialisation to optimise performance in ODIs and Tests.
Only time will tell if this approach yields results, but it is clear that the PCB is ready to take tough decisions to align with the evolving global cricketing landscape.
Disclaimer: This news content is for informational reporting purposes only. Readers are advised to verify official team selections, final squad announcements, and player statements from the Pakistan Cricket Board before drawing conclusions on career decisions or retirements.
