Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has raised concerns over Babar Azam’s exclusion from the Test squad during the ongoing series against England.
Raja criticised the decision, suggesting that it should have been Babar’s choice to take a break rather than the selectors’ decision to drop him entirely.
Speaking during a discussion on Sky Sports with former England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, Raja highlighted the importance of allowing a player like Babar to make such decisions himself.
He described the move as a "kneejerk reaction" from the new selection committee, noting that Babar has been struggling for form in Test cricket recently but should have had the autonomy to manage his playing schedule.
"It should have been Babar's call whether he wanted time out of the playing XI or not," Raja said. "The general opinion was he needed rest, but he was taken out of the squad completely."
The 30-year-old batsman has been under pressure following a string of disappointing performances in red-ball cricket, having failed to score a half-century in his last nine Tests.
Despite these challenges, Raja emphasised Babar's importance not only on the field but also in terms of cricket's commercial aspects, particularly in attracting sponsorships for Pakistan cricket.
"We need to understand he sells cricket for Pakistan," Raja explained. "There's always debate about whether Babar will fail or make a comeback, and that keeps things interesting. Right now, I don’t see any sellable commodity in this Pakistan team, and the sponsors are wary because Pakistan have been losing and there are no real superstars playing."
In Babar’s absence, Kamran Ghulam made his Test debut in the second match of the series in Multan, stepping in on a difficult, spinner-friendly pitch. Ghulam came to the crease following early dismissals of Abdullah Shafique and captain Shan Masood, with Pakistan battling a deteriorating pitch that had already begun to show signs of wear.
