KARACHI:

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday, clarified having no role in dropping the senior duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the Pakistan squad for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28.

Babar and Rizwan, who represented Pakistan in every multi-lateral tournament since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been out of favour in the shortest format since the three-match away series against South Africa in December last year.

The duo ultimately failed to make it to the Pakistan squad for the upcoming Asia Cup as the former champions shift their focus to grooming youngsters ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.

Their snub from the continental tournament drew severe backlash from fans and has been the point of debate among cricket pundits since the announcement of the Pakistan squad.

Meanwhile, Naqvi, who presided over the cricket board’s 80th Board of Governors (BoG) meeting earlier today, briefed the media here during a private event and reiterated that the national teams are selected solely on merit by the selection committee and advisors, denying his involvement in the process.

“First of all, I do not have a one per cent role in selecting or dropping anyone. We have a selection committee and advisory body; they sit together and hold several lengthy meetings [to select the team],” said Naqvi.

“Definitely, if they are selecting a team, so I have full faith in them. They are professional, and I instructed them to make the decisions on merit.

“Rest, whatever the lot was available, we polished them and carried forward, and by the will of Almighty Allah, our strive would be to further explore young talent so that the competition grows.”

 

Rizwan’s future

Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan’s future as Pakistan’s ODI captain will be decided by the national selectors, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday.

Rizwan, who was appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain in October 2024, succeeding star batter Babar Azam, had a dream start to his tenure as the national team won three consecutive bilateral series, including historic triumphs away against Australia and South Africa.

The national team’s performance under Rizwan’s captaincy, however, deteriorated significantly as they lost the tri-nation series against South Africa and New Zealand before suffering a group-stage exit from the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 in home conditions.

The Green Shirts then played three-match away series against New Zealand and West Indies and suffered defeats.

Pakistan’s repeated failures in the format have raised serious doubts over Rizwan’s captaincy future, and PCB Chairman Naqvi was also asked to address the issue during a media interaction on the sidelines of a private event here earlier today.

Naqvi asserted that any decision regarding captaincy will be made by the selectors, while also sharing that head coach Mike Hesson has submitted his report following their defeat against West Indies.

“Selectors will make a decision. Head coach has submitted his report after our last contested ODI,” Naqvi shared.

“We are going through it, and after mutual consultation, whatever is decided will be conveyed,” he added.

The PCB chairman further explained the absence of Category A in the recently announced men’s central contracts, linking it with the national team’s below-par performances.

“It was decided on the basis of the performances,” Naqvi said.