Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has addressed the significant omission of senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming ACC Men’s Asia Cup. The duo, who have been ever-present in multi-nation tournaments since the 2021 T20 World Cup, were sidelined from the T20 format following last December’s series against South Africa. Their exclusion from the continental championship, set for September 9-28, has drawn intense criticism from fans and former cricketers alike, marking a major shift in selection policy.
Speaking on the sidelines of a training session in Sharjah, Afridi acknowledged the stature of the absent stars while emphasizing the need to provide opportunities for new talent. “Babar and Rizwan are world-class players, and they played pretty good cricket for Pakistan and by the will of Almighty Allah will play again,” he stated. However, he added, “I won’t be here either in the future. I believe everyone should get the opportunity… they should grab it with both hands.”
The move is part of a clear strategic decision by the former champions to focus on grooming youngsters in preparation for next year’s T20 World Cup. Afridi threw his support behind this new generation of players, urging fans and the team to rally behind them. “They are our youngsters as well, so we should back them. They are also our players, and we should take them forward,” the pace spearhead emphasized.
The newly appointed squad, which includes Salman Ali Agha as captain, will first compete in a tri-nation T20I series against Afghanistan and hosts UAE from August 29 to September 7. This series will serve as a crucial preparatory ground for the eight-team Asia Cup, which begins just a day after the tri-series concludes, offering the young team a chance to build momentum ahead of the continental challenge.
