Why Was Babar Azam Dropped For New Zealand T20Is?

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has made a startling revelation regarding Babar Azam’s exclusion from the T20I squad that recently faced New Zealand in a five-match series. According to the former wicketkeeper, the decision to drop the star batter was driven by “jealousy” rather than tactical reasoning.

Speaking on a local media program, Rashid Latif accused the selection committee of sidelining Babar Azam solely to assert its authority. The discussion arose when Latif, part of a panel of experts, was asked about Hasan Nawaz’s underwhelming performances against New Zealand.

Despite replacing Babar at the top of the order, Nawaz struggled, failing to reach double figures in four of his five innings and looking out of depth against New Zealand’s seaming and bouncy conditions. Latif suggested that Pakistan might have fared better had Babar remained in the squad.

The PCB defended its decision by stating that Babar was omitted in an effort to play a more aggressive brand of cricket. However, the move failed to produce results, as Pakistan was comprehensively beaten 4-1 by the Black Caps.

Latif’s remarks have reignited debate within the cricketing community about the transparency and fairness of the PCB’s selection process. Personal bias has often been cited as a factor in team selections, leading to inconsistent performances by the Pakistan national team.

As Pakistan gears up for upcoming international assignments, these allegations highlight the need for introspection and potential reforms in the selection process to ensure that merit and performance remain the primary criteria for selection. Meanwhile, Babar Azam is set to return to action in the ODI format when Pakistan faces New Zealand in the first of three ODIs tomorrow.