Pakistan’s selection committee stunned everyone by excluding former skipper Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan from the team’s 17-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup.
On this matter, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi clarified that he was not involved in the decision-making and fully supports merit-based selection.
Both Azam and Rizwan have been asked to improve their strike rate in the T20 format, as revealed by head coach Mike Hesson and chief selector Aqib Javed during the squad announcement.
According to the Times of India, while speaking to local reporters, Naqvi explained that a group of selectors and an advisory committee are solely responsible for team selection.
“First of all, I don’t have even 1 per cent role in putting players into the team or taking them out,” he said. “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.”
Naqvi also emphasised the professionalism maintained in the process. “Definitely, if a team is being selected, it’s in good hands; all professionals are there. I’ve only told them one thing — whatever decision they take, it should be on merit, and I will support that,” he added.
Pakistan will play their first Asia Cup 2025 match against Oman on September 12, with Salman Ali Agha leading the team. Pakistan and Oman are placed in Group A alongside India and the United Arab Emirates.
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