Babar Azam has been recalled to the Test team for the upcoming series against South Africa. Former Pakistan player Basit Ali is not pleased with the decision and questioned the parameters that scripted Babar’s return to the red-ball team.
Pakistan announced their squads for all the formats to compete with the Proteas. There was no place for Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Test team but the selectors recalled Babar and Naseem Shah, who were dropped for the second and third Tests against England.
“How many matches did Babar Azam played in domestic cricket since he was dropped from the Test team? When Babar was not considered good enough for the two Tests against England, on what basis did he manage to return for the tour of South Africa? He is a good player but did he improve as a batter after the last Test series against England?”
The right-handed batter scored 30 and 5 in the series opener against the English team. The new selection committee decided to remove him for the remaining games, and the move proved beneficial as the home won the two games to lift the trophy at home.
The right-handed batter scored 80 runs in three ODIs against Australia, while his tally was 47 in three T20Is against the same rivals.
Pakistan’s squad for South Africa Tests: Shan Masood (C), Saud Shakeel (VC), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Haseebullah (wk)