"I would always have Babar Azam in the team," says former Pakistan head coach

Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has thrown his weight behind Babar Azam, calling the prolific batter “absolute class” amid his continued exclusion from the T20I squad.

Babar, along with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, was dropped earlier this year for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand, a decision the selection committee defended as an opportunity to test younger talent.

Since then, neither Babar nor Rizwan has featured in the shortest format, with both players also left out of the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, beginning tomorrow (May 28) in Lahore.

In another shake-up, Rizwan was removed from the T20I captaincy after just two series, with Salman Ali Agha now leading the side.

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Speaking in a recent interview with a local sports platform, Mickey Arthur made his stance clear that he would never leave Babar out of his XI.

“It’s an interesting one. I would always have Babar Azam in the team,” Arthur said. “I think he’s a wonderful player. I’m not sure what’s happened over the past couple of years, but the Babar I know is absolute class.”

Mickey Arthur, who coached Pakistan during one of its most successful white-ball periods in recent memory, also praised Mohammad Rizwan for his adaptability and skillset, especially behind the stumps.

“If Rizwan is your best wicketkeeper, then he has a role to play,” he noted. “He can adapt his game to fit wherever the team needs him. It’s about making the most of his abilities.”

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