PAK vs NZ: No Rest For Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan In NZ T20Is, Assures Wahab Riaz - Reports

Media reports suggested that the national selection committee is planning to rest the duo for the T20I series in New Zealand after Pakistan faced a crushing defeat against Australia by 360 runs. An insider source close to Babar Azam and Rizwan said that former captain and wicketkeeper-batter personally called up Wahab Riaz from Australia seeking clarification regarding the T20I series against the Blackcaps.

“Babar and Rizwan made it clear to the chief selector that they had never asked for any rest as they were doing fine. Then why were reports circulating in the media that the selectors were going to rest them,” the insider said, as quoted by PTI.

The source revealed that the former Pakistan pacer said that he suggested resting them in a few games against New Zealand but later changed his mind. “Wahab said he had suggested with other selectors and team management. But all of them convinced him that the New Zealand series was important and was not one where the team could manage without two senior players in different conditions,” the source revealed.

Wahab Riaz Assures Babar Azam And Mohammad Rizwan About Media Reports

Wahab Riaz is said to have assured both the players that he will discuss with them before any game in which he thinks the duo should be rested.  “Wahab assured Babar and Rizwan they remained the backbone of the Pakistan team and their selection for the five-match T20I series confirmed this. So, they had nothing to worry about,” he added.

“The top batsman has concerns about rumours that the selectors and the cricket board wanted to sideline him to try out other players in the coming white-ball games before the T20 World Cup in the West Indies (and USA) next year. But the chief selector has assured Babar there is no conspiracy against him and everyone has the utmost faith in his abilities,” said the insider.

Babar Azam is said to be under a lot of pressure of being dropped since he was asked to step down from the captain’s role in all formats after a horrendous World Cup campaign in India. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam may not be dropped from the squad but they are unlikely to open the innings for Pakistan in T20Is.

Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the side in T20Is and his first assignment will be against the Kiwis starting from January 12. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are likely to bat at their ODI position that is No.3 and No.4 respectively with Saim Ayub and Azam Khan to open the innings. Azam Khan is likely to keep the wickets if the team decides to rest Rizwan.