Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were the reason why the Pakistan cricket team made the semifinal and final of the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups. The star batters did the bulk of the scoring, taking the Men in Green to average totals, and then their bowlers defended whatever was on board.
Babar Azam & Rizwan’s slow struggles
This approach worked well. But in the last couple of years, not only have the scoring rates gone through the roof, but also Pakistan’s bowlers have been struggling. That is why after the 2024 T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to bring Saim Ayub into the mix.
Both got flak for slow scoring, and less than 12 months later, both have been dropped from the T20I setup. Their greatest-ever partnership no longer matters. To get with the times, Pakistan will look for new openers.
Pakistan needs new T20I openers
In early March, Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed stated that both batters will have to prove their worth by performing in domestic cricket. Now, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has clearly stated that the Men in Green have moved on from them.
Agha, who was made skipper after the 2025 Champions Trophy, thanked them for the contributions, but it’s clear that Babar and Rizwan aren’t in the scheme of things anymore.
“Babar Azam and Rizwan have contributed a lot to Pakistan cricket, and now we are working on building a new combination. The playing XI has not been finalized yet, but we are confident in our squad and focused on delivering strong performances,” Agha Salman told reporters in Christchurch.
Pakistan’s T20I squad for New Zealand series
Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Haris, Irfan Khan Niazi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Moqim, Usman Khan
New Zealand vs Pakistan, T20I schedule
- 16 March – 1st T20I, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 18 March – 2nd T20I, University Oval, Dunedin
- 21 March – 3rd T20I, Eden Park, Auckland
