ISLAMABAD – With the Asia Cup 2025 just weeks away, the question of Babar Azam’s return to Pakistan’s T20I squad has sparked debate among selectors and fans — especially following Fakhar Zaman’s injury during the recent West Indies series.
Sources within the selection committee revealed that no formal discussions have taken place yet regarding Babar’s inclusion. While there’s growing public pressure to bring the 31-year-old batter back, selectors are treading carefully.
Although Fakhar’s unavailability for the tournament hasn’t been confirmed, his injury before the third T20I against the West Indies forced him to return home. He has been ruled out of the ODI series and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. A final call on his Asia Cup participation will depend on a fitness assessment.
An official from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stated that while the door remains open for Babar’s return, selectors are pursuing a forward-looking strategy focused on grooming young talent. Bringing Babar back could put unnecessary pressure on current skipper Salman Ali Agha, who has led Pakistan in most T20Is since early 2025.
Babar last played a T20I in December 2024 against South Africa. His recent T20 form has raised concerns — scoring 236 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 26, with no half-centuries and three single-digit scores in his last five innings.
He also captained Pakistan during the 2024 T20 World Cup, a tournament marked by poor performances that prompted the PCB to make sweeping changes and prioritize youth development.
Still, some cricketing voices believe Babar’s experience could prove crucial, particularly in high-pressure matches against teams like India during the Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, Salman Ali Agha has emerged as a consistent leader in Babar’s absence. Since making his T20I debut in November 2024, he has captained Pakistan in 18 out of 20 T20Is, winning series against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh (home), and most recently, West Indies. His overall T20I record includes 380 runs with three fifties and four wickets.
📺 Asian cricket media rights sold
In another major development, Pakistan’s state television has acquired the Asian cricket broadcasting rights for $5.2 million (PKR 1.5 billion). The deal includes coverage of the 2025 and 2027 Asia Cups — set to be held in the UAE from September 9–28, with 19 matches scheduled.
If both India and Pakistan qualify for the final, three high-profile Indo-Pak matches are expected.
Last year, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) sold eight-year media rights to Sony India for $170 million, covering both men’s and women’s Asia Cups until 2031. Sony initially demanded $12 million from Pakistani channels for the upcoming two tournaments, but no broadcaster agreed, citing poor market conditions.
Eventually, PTV stepped in, securing the deal for a much lower figure. Meanwhile, Sony India is still negotiating with two private channels in Pakistan for possible joint purchase of broadcast rights, aiming to recover an additional $5 million.
The digital streaming rights have already been finalized. Pakistan’s total share in ACC media revenues is around 25% ($42.5 million), with India contributing the lion’s share of the income — around 65% of the total.
