The future of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi in Pakistan's T20I setup has come under intense scrutiny, with recent reports suggesting a possible end to their roles in the shortest format. Selectors are considering excluding these senior players from the upcoming T20 series against the West Indies and Bangladesh, signaling a shift towards promoting younger talent and exploring new team strategies.

Reasons for the Potential Exclusion

Several factors appear to be driving this potential change.

• Focus on Youth: A primary reason is to provide opportunities for young players to gain experience ahead of major tournaments like the Asia Cup and the ICC World T20 Cup. Selectors and head coach Mike Hesson reportedly want to give a proper run to new, young players in the T20 squad in the upcoming series.
• Workload Management: With a busy schedule including the ICC World Test Championship and ODIs, team management aims to manage the workload of Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen. This is especially pertinent for Shaheen Afridi, given his grueling season across formats.
• Evolving T20 Blueprint: There's a growing emphasis on high-impact, power-packed cricket from ball one, which may see Babar and Rizwan, who haven't featured in T20Is since December 2024, on the periphery of Pakistan's evolving T20 blueprint. The selectors seem to be tilting toward a more aggressive batting order.
• PSL Performances: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 has showcased exciting new talents, potentially influencing the selectors to consider fresh faces.

Possible Replacements and Emerging Talent

Several young players have impressed selectors with their performances in PSL 2025. Some names being considered for the upcoming series include:

• Mohammad Naeem: Known for striking the ball hard and playing in the top order.
• Yasir Khan: Recognized for his aggressive dominance in the early stages of innings.
• Maaz Sadaqat: An all-rounder who can add stability to the T20 team.
• Ubaid Shah: A promising fast bowler.

What the Experts are saying

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Atiq uz Zaman has voiced uncertainty regarding the trio's role in the T20I format. He highlighted their absence from recent series and questioned the team management's decisions after PSL 10. Zaman also expressed disappointment over Mohammad Rizwan’s omission, despite his consistent performance.

Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen's Recent Performance

• Babar Azam: In T20Is, Babar has played 128 matches, scoring 4,223 runs with an average of 39.83 and a strike rate of 129.2. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he scored 122 runs in 4 innings, averaging 40.67 with a strike rate of 101.67.
• Mohammad Rizwan: Rizwan has played 106 T20 matches, scoring 3,414 runs at an average of 47.41. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he scored 17(16) against Ireland ,53(53) against Canada, 31(44) against India and 9(8) against USA.
• Shaheen Afridi: Shaheen has a bowling average of 22.12 and has taken 102 wickets in his T20I career. In the T20 World Cup 2024, Afridi took 3/22 against Ireland, 1/21 against Canada and 1/29 against India.

Despite their recent performances, the selectors seem keen on exploring alternative options, keeping an eye on the future.

The Road Ahead

While the reports suggest a potential exit for the senior players from the immediate T20I plans, a source close to the national selector indicated that the door isn't entirely closed. If the new players don't perform as expected, the selectors can always revert to Babar, Rizwan, and Shaheen. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has assured players that no one is barred from selection and encouraged all players to perform well in domestic and international matches.

Pakistan is set to tour the West Indies in late July for three T20Is and three ODIs, followed by a three-match T20 series in Bangladesh in August. A T20 series against Afghanistan is also scheduled for late August, leading up to the Asia Cup and the ICC World T20 Cup. The upcoming team selections will be crucial in shaping Pakistan's T20I strategy for these important tournaments.