On August 7, 2025, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam dropped three spots to 17th place in the ICC T20I batting rankings after being absent from the national T20I squad.
Similarly, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan also fell three places, landing in 19th position. This shift in rankings follows Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup under Azam’s captaincy, which resulted in his exclusion from subsequent T20I series against New Zealand in March 2025 and Bangladesh.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s most-capped T20I captain with 55 matches, last played a T20I in December 2024 against South Africa. His exclusion from the squad came after criticism of his leadership during the World Cup. Unverified reports suggest a potential comeback for him, triggered by an injury to opener Fakhar Zaman during the ongoing tour of the West Indies.
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Sources indicate that Azam could replace Zaman if he does not pass a fitness test, with speculation centred on the upcoming tri-nation T20I series involving the UAE and Afghanistan.
Babar Azam’s selection for the T20I squad may depend on his performance in the ongoing three-match ODI series against the West Indies, which begins on August 8, 2025, at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad. The second and third ODIs are scheduled for August 10 and 12, respectively. Reports indicate that a strong performance in these matches could position Azam as a key contender for the Asia Cup 2025 T20I squad, potentially filling the role currently held by Zaman.
