🏏 Aqib Javed Breaks Silence on Babar Azam’s T20I Exclusion
🏆 The Controversy That Refused to Die
For more than a year, one burning debate dominated Pakistan cricket circles: Why was Babar Azam excluded from the T20I side?
The decision shocked fans, divided analysts, and triggered endless conversations across TV shows, social media platforms, and cricket forums. Many believed internal politics were involved. Others insisted the decision was purely cricketing.
Now, finally, Aqib Javed has spoken openly, shedding light on the real story behind the controversial exclusion — and firmly shutting down accusations of personal bias.
This blog uncovers:
- The timeline of Babar’s removal from T20Is
- What changed inside the Pakistan team setup
- Why young talent was prioritized
- Aqib Javed’s full justification
- How Babar made a stunning comeback
- Cricket insights behind his dip and rise
- Analysis of selection committee dynamics
- Fan reactions, media pressure & narrative shaping
- FAQs and expert breakdown
📜 Background: How the Babar Azam T20I Debate Started
Babar Azam led Pakistan in:
- 2019 T20 World Cup
- 2021 T20 World Cup (semi-finalists)
- 2022 T20 World Cup (finalists)
Despite remarkable consistency, criticism eventually intensified:
- Slow strike rate
- Conservative Powerplay approach
- Over-dependence on anchors
- Repetitive top-order patterns
- Lack of modern T20 intent
After Pakistan’s loss to South Africa in December last year, selectors began rethinking the entire T20 structure.
This led to a major shift: the focus moved to grooming youngsters for the upcoming T20 World Cup cycle.
And that’s when Babar Azam — the most prominent face of Pakistan cricket — suddenly found himself out of the T20I squad.
📉 Why Babar Was Dropped: The Cricketing Theory Behind It
This part of the story is important.
Babar was dropped not because he lacked skill, but because Pakistan wanted to transition toward:
- Explosive openers
- Aggressive No. 3s
- Flexible batting orders
- Higher strike rates (140–160+)
- Powerplay maximization
- Dynamic finishing options
T20 cricket evolved. Power-hitting became non-negotiable.
Many analysts pointed out:
- Babar’s strike rate in Powerplay was often under 120
- He preferred timing over power
- Pakistan struggled to post scores above 180
- The team needed younger, fearless hitters
These arguments shaped Pakistan’s planning for the Asia Cup 2025 and future tournaments.
🧭 The Decision: Who Made the Call?
Aqib Javed was the interim head coach during this transitional phase.
But according to him:
“These are collective decisions — not mine alone.”
He stresses:
- He cannot drop or select players individually
- The selection committee, coaches, and performance analysts decide together
- Babar’s exclusion was a strategic team decision
Aqib rejected all accusations of personal bias:
“Why would I have a personal issue with Babar in only one format?”
His statement refutes the narrative promoted heavily by certain fan groups and social media pages.
🎯 Aqib Javed’s Full Explanation: What He Really Meant
Aqib made several key points:
✔️ 1. It wasn’t personal
He said he respects Babar’s talent across formats.
✔️ 2. He doesn’t have the authority to drop a player
Selection requires group consensus.
✔️ 3. The committee planned rotation and transition
They wanted to test new faces in T20Is.
✔️ 4. Babar still remained part of Pakistan’s long-term plans
His removal was temporary, not permanent.
✔️ 5. Babar’s style didn’t match the vision during that phase
Pakistan wanted fresh combinations.
This clarifies that Aqib was not acting independently.
🎯 Why Fan Outrage Targeted Aqib Javed
Even though the selection was collective, Aqib became the easiest target online.
Reasons:
- He was head coach at the time
- Babar’s fanbase is extremely large
- Experts assumed he pushed the decision
- Old interviews resurfaced where Aqib criticized anchor-style T20 cricket
- Fans misunderstood strategic comments as personal attacks
The narrative shifted from team strategy to personal conflict, which was untrue.
⭐ Babar’s Comeback: A Story of Resilience
After missing the Asia Cup 2025 squad, Babar Azam returned for the home series against South Africa — a massive moment for fans and the media.
His comeback was iconic:
- He resumed opening
- Played with higher intent
- Showed improved strike rotation
- Displayed more boundary aggression
And then came the big milestone:
🚨 He surpassed Rohit Sharma to become the all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is.
That cemented his legacy and silenced critics — at least temporarily.
📊 Cricket Analysis: Why Babar Still Matters in T20Is
Despite criticisms, Babar remains:
- One of the most consistent T20 batters in the world
- A master at pacing long innings
- A stabilizing anchor when top-order collapses
- A reliable scorer on tough pitches
- A player who adapts quickly depending on team needs
Where Babar excels
- Cover drives
- Square cuts
- Rotating strike
- Tackling spin
- Building partnerships
Where he needs improvement
- Accelerating early
- Power-hitting range
- Strike rate vs pace
- Intent in the Powerplay
Pakistan’s new management believes combining Babar’s consistency with aggressive openers is the winning formula.
🏏 Selection Committee Dynamics: How Decisions Are Actually Made
To understand the Babar case, one must know how selection works:
✔️ 1. Head coach shares input
But cannot unilaterally remove players.
✔️ 2. Selection committee analyzes performance data
✔️ 3. Management discusses long-term strategy
Especially before big tournaments.
✔️ 4. Team captain also contributes
✔️ 5. Final decisions are collective, not personal
This matches Aqib’s statement:
“Who am I to drop anyone alone?”
🔥 Media, Narrative, and Social Pressure
Media played a huge role in intensifying the controversy.
How the narrative shaped:
-
YouTubers blamed coaches
-TV analysts exaggerated conflicts
-Social media polarized fans
-Fan pages created conspiracy stories
Result:
A purely cricketing decision turned into a public drama.
Aqib’s interview now clarifies miscommunication.
🧠 Why Grooming Youngsters Became Necessary
Pakistan needed:
- Hard-hitting top-order
- Versatile batting depth
- Backup openers
- A fearless middle-order
- Flexible strike rate options
Young players allowed:
- Higher intent
- Modern shot range
- Fresher mindset
- No baggage of expectations
This was essential for the T20 World Cup 2026 roadmap.
💬 How Babar Azam Responded Professionally
Babar never complained publicly.
Instead, he:
- Focused on domestic cricket
- Improved his power-hitting
- Polished his middle-overs scoring
- Returned with stronger fitness
- Demonstrated renewed aggression
His response proved his maturity.
🏏 Cricketory Insights & Analysis
⭐ Why Babar Was Really Dropped — Beyond Emotions
While fans believed politics or personal conflict were behind Babar’s exclusion, insiders confirm it was a cricket strategy reset. Pakistan wanted a modern T20 model:
- Higher strike rate openers
- Powerplay aggression
- Flexible batting roles
- Fearless youngsters
Babar’s classical anchor role didn’t fit the short-term plan — but he was never ruled out long-term.
⭐ Aqib Javed’s Stance: ‘Collective Decision, Not Mine’
Aqib clarified that:
- He cannot drop a player alone
- Selection involves coaches, analysts, selectors, and captain
- The plan was to test new talent before the T20 World Cup cycle
This shuts down the narrative that Aqib “personally” removed Babar.
⭐ Why Fans Targeted Aqib
Even when the decision was collective, Aqib became the public villain because:
- He was interim head coach
- He earlier criticized conservative T20 batting
- Babar has a massive fanbase that protects him
- Media amplified drama for clicks
In reality, Aqib was only one voice in a larger cricketing panel.
⭐ The T20 Format Evolution Pakistan Needed
Pakistan’s biggest T20 issues since 2022:
- Slow starts in Powerplay
- Overdependence on anchors
- Lack of 180+ totals
- Weak middle-overs acceleration
Babar’s traditional approach made him a target of tactical restructuring — not a victim of personal conflict.
⭐ Babar’s Comeback Proved His Class
Upon returning, Babar:
- Opened with more aggression
- Upped his boundary rate
- Improved intent vs pace
- Surpassed Rohit Sharma to become all-time T20I top scorer
His resurgence showed that he adapted — and that his exclusion actually strengthened his game.
⭐ Selection Committee Strategy Explained
The real selection formula:
- Data analysts → Highlight strike rate concerns
- Head coach → Suggests combinations
- Captain → Approves tactical roles
- Selectors → Finalize the squad
No individual can “target” a player.
⭐ Future: Babar + Youngsters = Pakistan’s T20 Model
Pakistan is moving toward a hybrid template:
- Aggression at the top
- Consistency in middle
- Explosive finishers
In this model, Babar isn’t discarded — he’s repositioned to add stability without slowing the game.
📈 Impact on Pakistan Cricket Going Forward
The episode taught Pakistan Cricket:
- Big names can be rotated
- No player is undroppable
- Fitness + strike-rate matter equally
- Team strategies can evolve
- Fans must trust the process
Pakistan is now building a hybrid model:
Consistency (Babar) + Aggression (Youngsters)
🏆 Final Thoughts: Aqib Javed Ends the Debate But the Conversation Will Continue
Aqib’s comments finally bring clarity.
He insists:
- No personal issue
- Decisions were collective
- Babar remains a valued player
- Team strategy guided selection
But in Pakistan cricket, debates never truly end.
Babar Azam’s journey continues. His fans continue to defend him. Critics continue to push him to evolve. And selectors continue to balance tradition with modern T20 strategy.
One thing is clear:
Babar’s story is far from over — and neither is the drama around him.
❓ FAQs
Q1. Why was Babar Azam dropped from Pakistan’s T20I team?
A: A strategic shift toward aggressive T20 cricket, not personal conflict.
Q2. Did Aqib Javed personally remove Babar?
A: No. Aqib clarified it was a collective committee decision.
Q3. Was Babar’s comeback planned?
A: Yes. He remained part of long-term plans.
Q4. Did Babar perform after returning?
A: Yes—he became the all-time leading T20I run-scorer.
Q5. Will Babar remain in future T20 plans?
A: Highly likely, depending on strike rate and team combination.