Want Babar Azam to play T20Is, says Wasim Akram despite Asia Cup snub

Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has advocated the inclusion of Babar Azam in the national T20I team due to his ability to see the team home in tricky run chases. Babar wasn’t picked in the T20I side for the Asia Cup 2025, and he last played the format in December 2024 in South Africa.

As Pakistan gear up for their Asia Cup campaign, Wasim Akram suggested that Babar can come in handy during tricky run chases of 150 or 160 on difficult wickets. However, he mentioned that the team has been doing fine in his and Mohammad Rizwan’s absence.

“Yeah, I just recently said that I want Babar to be in T20. Just you think about him because against stronger sides, if you're going to chase 150 or 160 on a pitch like this or in any slightly dodgy wicket, it'll be difficult. You have to change your game a bit. Maybe that will be useful, but I think this team is doing OK. They have given enough chance to Babar and Rizwan as an opener for 4 or 5 years. They did well, but not as well, not as consistent, and hence the new boys,” said Akram on Sony Sports.

Furthermore, he also praised Salman Agha for doing a terrific job as captain so far, saying that the young side don’t have the fear of losing under his leadership.

“Babar is not there, Rizwan is not there. I think the idea was to move on from them, to go to these youngsters. They've done well, haven’t been consistent, but at least they have the right mindset. They don't have fear of losing. When you have fear of losing, you buckle under pressure. So these guys, they might lose, but I think Salman Agha is a good captain. He's leading from the front. He sacrifices his place at number 4-5, according to the situation. They shouldn’t make too many experiments with this team. They can beat top teams on a regular basis,” he added.

Salman Agha was appointed as Pakistan’s T20I captain earlier this year and has led his team to victories in three out of five series so far. Under his captaincy, Pakistan warmed up for the Asia Cup by winning the tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE. Pakistan have been placed in Group A in the Asia Cup 2025 alongside India, Oman and UAE. They will begin their campaign against Oman on September 12 before taking on arch-rivals India on September 14.