‘Don’t have even 1% role’ – PCB chairperson on Babar, Rizwan’s Asia Cup snub

‘Don’t have even 1% role’ – PCB chairperson on Babar, Rizwan’s Asia Cup snub. (Source: Getty Images)

Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairperson Mohsin Naqvi has stated that he has a minimal role to play in the selection of cricketers in the national setup. Two of Pakistan’s most experienced cricketers, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, were not included in Pakistan’s 17-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025.

Naqvi clarified that any discussion on players to be picked for Pakistan is made after discussions between the advisory body and the selection committee.

“First of all, I don’t have even 1% role in putting players into the team or taking them out. We have a selection committee and then an advisory body; they all sit together. The process goes through a lot — discussions that last 8-10 hours, sometimes for 2-3 days. Definitely, if a team is being selected, it’s in good hands; all professionals are there,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by News18.

Naqvi  elaborated that PCB’s long-term vision was to nurture as many emerging talents as possible for them to gain sufficient exposure.

I’ve only told them one thing — whatever decision they take, it should be on merit, and I will support that. With whatever lot was available, I polished it and carried it forward. Now, our effort is to bring in as many new players as possible so that there is more competition in cricket and the best of the best can come forward,” he added.

Babar and Rizwan last represented Pakistan in T20Is last December. They were not considered for any of the Men in Green’s last four T20I series: New Zealand (away), Bangladesh (home), Bangladesh (away) and West Indies (away). Despite the writing being on the wall, it was speculated that the two seasoned cricketers would be called up for the Asia Cup.

Pakistan are slotted in Group A alongside India, Oman and United Arab Emirates in the upcoming eight-team tournament. They will kickstart their campaign on September 12 against Oman at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium before meeting arch-rivals India at the same venue on September 14.

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