Aqib Javed Keeps Door Open for Babar Azam’s T20 Return

LAHORE – Pakistan’s high-performance chief, Aqib Javed, has made it clear that Babar Azam has not been permanently dropped from the T20 squad—future selections will hinge entirely on merit, not politics or past reputation. Speaking at Gaddafi Stadium, Javed emphasized, “Whether it’s Babar or others, opportunities are there for anyone delivering strong performances.” He emphasized that players themselves must judge which format suits their game style best, and that only form and effort earn selection. Javed also outlined a wider strategy for Pakistan cricket: both white-ball and red-ball camps will convene in July, ahead of upcoming Test series with South Africa and future limited-overs fixtures. He touted the establishment of a biomechanics lab at the NCA and a high-performance centre for women in Karachi, plus regional development hubs in Sialkot (U13), Faisalabad (U17), and Multan (U19). The overall message was firm: Babar remains in contention, but will have to prove his readiness alongside emerging talent. <iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/s1wXH8ygdGA?si=9EpLDVEQgO-m6zCs” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe> This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.