After Asia Cup snub, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan attacked in Pakistan

Former Pakistan National Cricket Team all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has launched a brutal attack on the superstar batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan after their Asia Cup 2025 snub.

Mohammad Hafeez said that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not the key players of Pakistan because they haven't won any matches for the country.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan hit a new low

Rizwan and Babar are regarded as two of the biggest names in Pakistan cricket. They are also considered two of the best batters to emerge from the country in the last decade, and their personal records speak for themselves.

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However, in the last few years, they have not been able to win any matches for Pakistan and have been at the receiving end of a heavy backlash.

Their poor performances also led to their axing from Pakistan teams, and Rizwan and Babar faced a fresh setback when they were snubbed from the squad that was recently picked for the Asia Cup 2025.

It was speculated that there were chances of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's return to the Pakistan T20I squad for the Asia Cup 2025 because of their experience, but the selectors overlooked the duo.

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Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not Pakistan cricket’s key players - Mohammad Hafeez

Former Pakistan head coach Mohammad Hafeez backed the selectors' decision not to include Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the squad for the Asia Cup, and while speaking on his YouTube channel, he said:

“Calling them (Babar and Rizwan) 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.

“If we look at the past year and a half to two years, the players showing consistent performance are Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, and Hasan Nawaz. Why aren’t we talking about them? They are the current players winning matches for Pakistan," he added.

I think Babar and Rizwan need to be concerned - Mohammad Hafeez

Hafeez further said that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should seriously introspect and see where their careers are heading.

“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.

“Both need to be fully involved in the game; otherwise, results won’t come. The same goes for Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi; they are also not giving match-winning performances for Pakistan," he added.

Mohammad Hafeez also urged the selection committee to identify and back the talented players who can serve the country for the next 10-15 years.

"We should focus on players who can contribute for the next 10–15 years. Our media criticises one or two players and hypes one or two others, which is wrong. We need to talk about those who are actually performing. If we want to improve Pakistan cricket, those in the AC rooms and those executing plans on the ground must address these issues promptly," he concluded.