Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were once again absent from Pakistan’s T20I setup as the Asia Cup squad was announced on Sunday.
Mohammad Hafeez Questions Babar Azam and Rizwan’s “Key Player” Status
For over five years, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been the backbone of Pakistan’s batting across formats, often shaping the team’s fortunes at the top of the order. However, their recent slump has drawn growing criticism, and both were notably left out of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, as selectors continue to sideline them from T20Is following repeated failures in ICC tournaments.
Former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has now openly questioned their effectiveness and current standing as “key players.” Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hafeez argued that the title of key player should be reserved for those who consistently win matches. “Calling them key players would be wrong and unfair. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not Pakistan cricket’s key players at the moment. Key players are those who win matches for Pakistan,” he said.
Hafeez also highlighted other cricketers who have stepped up in recent years. “If we look at the past year and a half to two years, the players showing consistent performance are Salman Ali Agha, Saeem Ayub and Hasan Nawaz. Why aren’t we talking about them? They are the current players winning matches for Pakistan,” he noted.
Acknowledging the duo’s past contributions, Hafeez emphasized that both Babar Azam and Rizwan must re-establish themselves through performance rather than rely on past reputation. “I think Babar and Rizwan need to be concerned about their positions in the team. They need to prove themselves as good players first; key players come later. Both were good in the past, but now they are not delivering results,” he remarked.
Hafeez takes aim at bowling unit
Mohammad Hafeez has extended his criticism beyond Pakistan’s batting, pointing to the pace attack as another area of concern. “The same goes for Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, they are also not giving match-winning performances for Pakistan,” Hafeez observed.
Emphasizing the need for a long-term vision, he called on Pakistan cricket to invest in consistent performers who can shape the team’s future. “We should focus on players who can contribute for the next 10–15 years. Our media criticizes one or two players and hypes one or two others, which is wrong. We need to talk about those who are actually performing,” he added.
Hafeez’s comments highlight a growing debate within Pakistan cricket about relying on past stars versus nurturing new talent capable of sustaining success over the coming decade.
