(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Mickey Arthur Questions Pakistan’s Decision to Drop Babar Azam from Asia Cup Squad
Pakistan’s batting struggles in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 have sparked fresh debate after former head coach Mickey Arthur criticized the team management for leaving out star batter Babar Azam.
Arthur: “Beyond Comprehension”
Pakistan qualified for the Super Four stage with a win over the UAE, but their batting issues—particularly at the top of the order—remain glaring.
Arthur, who famously guided Pakistan to the 2017 Champions Trophy title, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his disbelief:
“How Babar is not in this batting line-up is totally beyond me!”
Pakistan’s Batting Woes
So far, Pakistan’s highest total in the tournament is 160/7 against Oman, thanks to a late cameo from Mohammad Haris.
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Against arch-rivals India, Pakistan collapsed to 127/9, a score easily chased down by their opponents with more than four overs remaining.
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The opening pair of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, included as part of a long-term strategy ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, has failed to deliver.
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Saim, in particular, has struggled, failing to score a single run in his first three innings.
Babar Azam’s Absence
Babar, the second-highest run-scorer in T20 internationals, has not played in the format since Pakistan’s away series against South Africa last December. His omission from the Asia Cup squad has been linked to the selectors’ desire to test young players, but many critics believe his absence has left a massive void in the batting order.
Arthur argues that leaving out a batter of Babar’s class has exposed Pakistan’s lack of depth, reigniting fan discussions on whether the team can afford to sideline its most consistent performer in a major tournament.
What’s Next for Pakistan?
As Pakistan heads deeper into the Super Four stage, pressure is mounting on the selectors and management. With the batting unit under scrutiny, the big question remains:
👉 Can Pakistan succeed in the Asia Cup without Babar Azam leading their top order?
