Babar Azam has not played T20Is for Pakistan since December 2024

Aaqib Javed, Director of the National High-Performance Centre, dismissed rumours suggesting Babar Azam was dropped from Pakistan’s T20I plans. Recent media reports indicated that Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi might be excluded from the upcoming T20I tour of the West Indies beginning August 1. Babar has not featured in the T20I setup since the tour of South Africa in December 2024 and missed both the New Zealand and Bangladesh series earlier this year. 

However, speaking at a press conference in Lahore on June 16, Aaqib clarified that no player is permanently sidelined and selections will be based purely on performance and form. “Whether it’s Babar or any other player, the opportunity is there for everyone,” he stated. He emphasised that players must be ready to adapt and meet the challenges of the format moving forward.