Former Bowler Suggests Retirement for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan if Respect Is Compromised

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Cric News India

August 18, 2025 0 520

Former Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed opined that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan should consider retirement if they feel disrespected after the Asia Cup snub.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Tanveer Ahmed has stirred a debate following the announcement of Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad. The Pakistan Cricket Board excluded senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who were once considered the backbone of the batting lineup.

Babar, a former No.1 T20I batter and captain, had led Pakistan in last year’s T20 World Cup but has since struggled for consistent opportunities. Rizwan, too, featured in that campaign before being overlooked for the two T20I series played this year. Both now face the same omission for the Asia Cup.

Reacting strongly, Tanveer suggested the duo should rethink their international future if they feel their stature within the team has been diminished. He pointed to global examples like Virat Kohli, urging them to value their legacy.

“Meri Babar Azam aur Rizwan say request hai ager ap log yeh samajhtey hain ap logon ke izzat nahi ha tou retirement ley lo international cricket say humarey samne virat kohli ke examples hain. @babarazam258, @iMRizwanPak izzat apney hath main ha(My request to Babar Azam and Rizwan is that if you feel your respect is not intact, then consider retiring from international cricket. We have examples of Virat Kohli in front of us. Babar and Rizwan, respect is in your hands),” he tweeted.

Earlier, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson had explained the reasoning behind Babar Azam’s exclusion from the Asia Cup squad, highlighting the need for improvement in T20 cricket. He stressed that Babar must raise his strike rate, especially against spinners, to reclaim his place in the national team.

READ ALSO | Mike Hesson Reveals Why Babar Azam Was Dropped for Asia Cup 2025

Meanwhile, questions have emerged around Fakhar Zaman’s inclusion, as he recently sustained a hamstring injury in the West Indies series. Concerns were raised on whether his selection came at the cost of Babar’s spot.