Babar Azam Dropped from T20 Squad? Basit Ali Shares Strong Opinion

Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has made a bold statement regarding Babar Azam’s place in the national T20 team. Speaking during an episode of the ARY Podcast, Basit openly shared his opinions on various cricket-related issues, including players’ performances, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and international cricket affairs.

During the podcast, Basit Ali was asked about Babar Azam’s role in the Pakistan team, especially his position in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is). In response, Basit said that Babar should continue to bat at number 3 in ODIs, which has traditionally been his strong position. However, he strongly felt that Babar should no longer be part of the T20I squad.

“Babar Azam should bat at No. 3 in ODIs. But when it comes to T20Is, he should not be in the team,” Basit said.

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Basit Ali expressed disappointment in Babar’s recent performances, especially in big tournaments like the ICC T20 World Cup. He believes that Babar has not delivered match-winning performances when the team needed him the most.

“Everyone still talks about the 2021 T20 World Cup win over India, but no one mentions how Virat Kohli snatched victory from us in Melbourne,” Basit added, referring to Pakistan’s loss to India in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

According to Basit, Babar has missed several chances to prove himself as a dependable player in key moments. He feels that Babar’s recent form does not justify a place in the fast-paced T20 format, where aggressive and quick scoring is essential.

It is important to note that Babar Azam last played a T20 International match for Pakistan in 2024 against South Africa. Since then, he has not been included in the squad for the T20 series against New Zealand and Bangladesh. This has raised questions about his future in the shortest format of the game.

Reports have also suggested that Babar is not part of the PCB’s plans for upcoming T20 tours to Bangladesh and the West Indies. These developments indicate that the cricket board may be looking to build a younger and more aggressive squad ahead of future tournaments.

Despite being left out of Pakistan’s T20I setup, Babar Azam’s cricket career is far from over. He has recently signed with the Sydney Sixers for the 2025 edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia. This move could help him regain form and confidence while playing in one of the world’s top T20 leagues.

In conclusion, Basit Ali’s remarks have sparked a debate among cricket fans and analysts. While some agree that changes are needed in Pakistan’s T20 lineup, others believe that Babar Azam still has a lot to offer. Only time will tell whether Babar will return to the T20I team or continue focusing on ODIs and franchise cricket.

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