Pakistan’s ace duo, Babar and Rizwan, last appeared in a T20I in December 2024 against South Africa.
Since then, neither player has been in the team’s plan for the shorter format amid criticism of their strike rates.Notably, the duo stands as the most successful pair in T20Is, having amassed 3,300 runs at an average of 46.47 over 73 innings from 2019 to 2024.During a recent episode of Sports Room on ARY News, Mickey Arthur said that Babar and Rizwan are not suitable for T20 cricket.
“Both Babar and Rizwan are excellent players, but cricket has evolved. They are not perfect for the kind of cricket needed to play in T20s today,” Arthur said.
The former coach praised the current coach and captain of the Pakistan T20I team, Mike Hesson, as well as Salman Ali Agha.
“Hesson, along with captain Agha Salman, desires that the team play as per their own strategy. They are shaping a style that is tailored for contemporary T20 cricket, and that comes with tough calls,” Mickey Arthur remarked.
On the other hand, M. Haris advised Babar Azam on a TV show. When the host asked him whether Babar should bring a change to his T20 game, Haris immediately responded, ‘Yes, faster.
