Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Ramiz Raja, has expressed concerns over the exclusion of star batsman Babar Azam from Pakistan’s Test squad during the ongoing series against England. Raja believes the decision should have been left to Babar, allowing him to decide if he needed a break rather than being dropped by the selection committee.
During a discussion on Sky Sports with former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, Raja emphasized the significance of letting a player like Babar make such choices himself. He described the decision as a “kneejerk reaction” by the new selection panel, acknowledging Babar’s recent dip in form in Test cricket but stressing that the batsman should have had the autonomy to manage his playing schedule.
“It should have been Babar’s call whether he wanted time out of the playing XI or not,” said Raja. “The general opinion was that he needed rest, but he was taken out of the squad completely.”
The 30-year-old batsman has been under mounting pressure after failing to score a half-century in his last nine Tests, a concerning statistic for the otherwise prolific run-scorer. Despite his recent struggles, Raja highlighted Babar’s importance beyond just his performances on the field, noting his significant role in boosting the commercial appeal of Pakistan cricket.
“We need to understand he sells cricket for Pakistan,” Raja pointed out. “There’s always debate about whether Babar will fail or make a comeback, and that keeps things interesting. Right now, I don’t see any sellable commodity in this Pakistan team, and the sponsors are wary because Pakistan have been losing and there are no real superstars playing.”
In Babar’s absence, Kamran Ghulam made his Test debut in the second match of the series in Multan. He entered the game on a challenging, spinner-friendly pitch, stepping in after the early dismissals of Abdullah Shafique and captain Shan Masood as Pakistan fought to counter a rapidly deteriorating surface.
