Too Slow for T20? Why Babar Azam’s T20 Future is Now in His Own Hands

When Pakistan announced its squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and the UAE tri-series, one name was surprisingly missing: Babar Azam. The former captain and star batsman has been left out, and the reason sends a clear message about the team’s new direction.

Put simply, the team management, led by Head Coach Mike Hesson, is shifting gears. They are prioritizing players who can make an immediate, aggressive impact. They want fast starters who can change the game early on, pointing to players like Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman as the new blueprint for Pakistan’s T20 batting.

So where does that leave Babar? According to the management, his scoring pace, particularly against spin bowling in the middle overs, just wasn’t matching this new, aggressive style.

But this isn’t a final goodbye. Hesson described the decision as a challenge for Babar, not the end of the road. He noted that Babar is an incredible player who is already working on this part of his game. Hesson suggested that a strong performance in overseas leagues, like Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), could be his ticket back into the T20 side.

This thinking is backed up by Aaqib Javed, the Director of High Performance. He stressed that a spot on the national team has to be earned by what you’re doing now, not by what you’ve done in the past. It’s a clear signal that reputation alone won’t guarantee selection.

For now, Pakistan is moving forward with a team built for speed and power. The debate around Babar will surely continue, but the ball is now in his court. At 30 years old, he has plenty of cricket left in him. The only question is how quickly he can adapt to Pakistan’s new, fast-paced T20 vision.