Babar Azam set for T20I comeback as PCB plans recall against South Africa

Babar Azam’s long wait to return to Pakistan’s T20I squad may finally be coming to an end. According to reports, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to recall the former captain for the upcoming home series against South Africa, scheduled for late October. This decision, if confirmed, will mark the end of Babar’s 10-month absence from the shortest format of international cricket.

Veteran cricket journalist Saleem Khaliq revealed that the PCB has already made up its mind about bringing Babar back into the T20 setup. Since December 2024, he has been left out as Pakistan tested a new playing style under head coach Mike Hesson. During this period, the team tried different batting combinations and aggressive strategies, but results remained inconsistent. Many cricket experts criticized the lack of stability in Pakistan’s batting order and argued that Babar’s calm and technically sound approach could provide the balance the team has been missing.

Interestingly, head coach Mike Hesson has never shut the door on Babar’s comeback. From the very beginning, he insisted that Babar still had an important role to play in Pakistan’s T20 future. It is believed that Hesson himself supported the idea of recalling him for the South Africa series, especially after Pakistan’s recent batting struggles.

Another surprising detail shared by Saleem Khaliq is that the PCB even considered calling Babar to the UAE midway through the Asia Cup 2025. The move was discussed after Pakistan’s batting lineup failed to deliver in crucial matches. However, tournament organizers made it clear that changes to the squad could only be made if a player was injured. This rule effectively blocked Babar’s participation in the event, forcing the PCB to wait until the next available series.

Babar’s exclusion from T20Is has been one of the most talked-about topics in Pakistan cricket over the past year. Fans and analysts often questioned how the country’s second-highest run-scorer in international T20 cricket could be kept out for so long. His return is now being seen as a carefully planned step to strengthen the batting unit, especially with the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 approaching.

If the recall goes ahead, Babar’s first T20I match since December 2024 will be against South Africa. This will give him the perfect chance to prove that he still belongs at the top level and can once again anchor Pakistan’s batting. It will also be an opportunity for him to work with the new management and adjust to the team’s updated playing strategy.

The Pakistan vs. South Africa T20I series is scheduled between 28 October and 1 November 2025. South Africa has already announced its squad, while Pakistan is expected to release its squad list in the coming days. Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the official confirmation of Babar’s return, which could be one of the biggest talking points of the series.

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