Babar Azam was omitted from Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad, with coach Mike Hesson citing a need to improve his strike rate and suggesting a possible BBL comeback route.
Babar Azam Overlooked for Asia Cup as Focus Shifts to Strike-Rate Improvement
In just 15 months, Babar Azam has gone from being reinstated as Pakistan’s T20I captain for the World Cup in the West Indies to being completely overlooked in the format. After missing series against Bangladesh and the West Indies, the former ICC No. 1 T20I batter was again omitted from Pakistan’s 17-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson addressed the decision, stating that Babar has been asked to improve his strike rate, particularly against spinners. He also suggested that the Big Bash League (BBL) could serve as a platform for the star batter to work on these areas and make a T20I comeback.
“There’s no doubt Babar has been asked to improve in some areas, particularly against spin and in terms of his strike-rate. Those are aspects I know he’s working very hard on at the moment,” Hesson said. “A player like Babar also has the opportunity to play in the BBL and showcase improvements in those areas of T20 cricket. He’s simply too good a player for us not to consider.”
Babar Azam’s Struggles Against Spin and Asia Cup Preparations
Since January 2022, Babar Azam has struggled against spinners in T20 cricket, recording a strike rate of just 122.91—the lowest among 20 batters who have faced at least 1,000 deliveries. Mohammad Rizwan, also left out of the Asia Cup, ranks second with a strike rate of 123.35.
Babar last featured in a T20I in December 2024 and later participated in the 2025 PSL, scoring 56*, 53*, and 94 in seven matches for Peshawar Zalmi. He was also part of India’s ODI series in the West Indies, registering scores of 47, 0, and 9 across three games.
The upcoming Asia Cup, scheduled in the UAE from 9 to 28 September, will see the Salman Ali Agha-led side play a T20I tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE at Sharjah from 29 August to 7 September, providing a crucial opportunity to fine-tune ahead of the main tournament.
