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Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has called for the return of star batter Babar Azam to the national T20I setup ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to be held next month.
Babar, along with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, has been missing from Pakistan’s T20I plans in recent months under the new management led by head coach Mike Hesson.
The 30-year-old last featured in a T20I against South Africa in December 2024, after which he was dropped following a string of inconsistent performances and concerns over his strike rate.
In a recent interview with a local sports platform, Wasim Akram expressed strong backing for Babar’s inclusion in the squad, stressing the importance of experience ahead of two major events, the ACC Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
“If I had the authority, I would definitely include Babar Azam in the national T20 team,” Akram said. “The Asia Cup and the World Cup are just around the corner, and we need a senior batter who can handle pressure.”
Highlighting Babar’s ability to adjust, Akram pointed to the batter’s 2019 stint with Somerset in the T20 Blast, where he struck runs at a strike rate close to 150.
“He has the ability to adapt his batting according to the situation,” he added.
“When we’re chasing 140 or 160, especially against big teams, we need someone who can take responsibility and carry the other 10 players along with him. Babar is among the world’s best players.”
Akram insisted that while younger players bring energy, experience remains key in knockout scenarios.
“He still has a lot of cricket left in him. He’s among the best in the world and we should support him instead of sidelining him,” the legendary left-arm pacer added.
On the question of batting position, Wasim Akram left the call to the team management but offered his own preference.
“The coach can play Babar at any position he wants. In my opinion, number three is ideal for him, but it will depend on the situation. If there are more overs left, someone else could also go in to bat first,” he concluded.
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