Former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur has said that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not well-suited for T20 cricket.

 

Speaking on a private TV channel, Arthur stated, “Babar and Rizwan are not fit for T20 cricket. Both are good players, but cricket has changed. For the style of cricket they want to play, they need players who can execute that plan on the ground.”

 

Arthur praised current head coach Mike Hesson, saying, “Hesson and Salman Ali Agha want to play cricket according to their plan.” He also recalled Pakistan’s past success, adding, “During our tenure, Pakistan became number one, and for that, Sarfaraz Ahmed and I had planned everything.”

 

Next month’s Asia Cup in the UAE has sparked debate after former Pakistan captain and record-breaking batter Babar Azam, along with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, were excluded from the squad. The move has drawn criticism from many quarters, with former captain Rashid Latif also weighing in.

 

In an interview with Khaleej Times, Latif claimed the exclusion of Babar and Rizwan was the result of “internal politics,” saying, “There has been a dip in their recent performances, but they were dropped not just for cricketing reasons but due to politics.”

 

Latif added, “Pakistan is currently ranked eighth in ICC T20 rankings. At such a time, ignoring players like Babar and Rizwan makes no sense because we do not have any batter like Don Bradman.”

 

He reiterated, “The ongoing power struggles and internal politics within PCB have mentally affected two of our best players, which has also impacted their performance.”