“Babar, Rizwan Not Suitable for T20s” – Ex-Pakistan Head Coach
Mickey Arthur says Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are “not suitable for T20” after their Asia Cup 2025 snub and contract demotion, sparking debate on Pakistan’s batting future.
Pakistan’s star batting pair, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have been left out of the Asia Cup 2025 squad, raising questions about their T20 future.
Former head coach Mickey Arthur has now openly stated that the duo no longer fits into the demands of modern-day T20 cricket.
Once the backbone of Pakistan’s batting, the pair is now facing criticism for their slow starts in the powerplay overs.
Their cautious approach, which once brought stability, is being viewed as outdated in an era where teams aim to score 50–60 runs in the first six overs.
Mickey Arthur on Babar-Rizwan’s T20 struggles
Speaking on Ary News, Arthur said:
“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are good players, but cricket has changed. They are not suitable for T20. The format now demands fast starts and fearless hitting from ball one. Pakistan needs different tools.”
Arthur, who previously coached Pakistan to the No.1 T20I ranking under Sarfaraz Ahmed, backed current coach Mike Hesson’s decision to invest in younger, more aggressive openers such as Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, and Sahibzada Farhan.
Demotion in PCB contracts
Adding to their woes, Babar and Rizwan have also been demoted to Category B in the PCB’s new central contracts.
Their repeated failures in global tournaments, including the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, contributed to the downgrade. Notably, PCB did not award a single Category A contract this year.
