Babar's T20I future hangs in balance

His return is subject to Fakhar Zaman's availability

KARACHI:

Ahead of the Asia Cup, Pakistan's selectors are hesitant to revisit some former players, but with Fakhar Zaman ruled out due to injury, calls for Babar Azam's return to the national squad have started gaining momentum.

However, sources within the selection committee have stated that no formal discussion has yet taken place on the matter, and Fakhar's unavailability for the tournament is not confirmed at this point.

A review meeting will be held after the West Indies tour, where the selection committee will assess the situation. According to a PCB official, the door to the T20 squad remains open for Babar, and if Fakhar is not available, his return could be considered. Still, it was emphasized that the board has adopted a forward-looking policy, focusing on giving younger players opportunities, and bringing Babar back at this stage could put unnecessary pressure on the current T20 captain, Salman Ali Agha.

Fakhar sustained an injury before the third T20 match during the West Indies tour, forcing him to return home. He has also been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series. While it remains unclear how long his recovery will take, fans have already begun demanding Babar Azam's return.

Despite this public sentiment, sources indicate that there is no certainty about his comeback, and no official instructions have been issued regarding his inclusion in the Asia Cup squad. Fakhar is currently undergoing rehabilitation, and a final decision will only be taken after a fitness assessment.

Babar last appeared in a T20 International in December 2024 against South Africa. Over his last 10 matches, he accumulated 236 runs at an average of 26, without registering a single half-century. In fact, three of his last five innings ended without him even reaching double figures. He last captained Pakistan during the 2024 T20 World Cup, where the team's performance was highly underwhelming, prompting the PCB to shift its focus toward youth development.

While there is a clear intention to invest in future talent, some stakeholders believe that Babar's experience would be vital in high-pressure encounters, particularly against India in the Asia Cup.

The 31-year-old made his T20I debut in November 2024 under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan. He stepped in as captain in the third match of the same series against Australia when Rizwan was unavailable, although the team lost that match.

Since then, in the absence of senior players, Salman has led Pakistan in several bilateral series:

Won 2-1 in Zimbabwe

Lost 4-1 in New Zealand

Clean-swept Bangladesh 3-0 at home

Lost the return series in Bangladesh 2-1

Recently defeated West Indies 2-1

Out of his 20 T20I appearances, 18 have been as captain. In these matches, he has scored 380 runs, including three half-centuries, and has also taken 4 wickets in the format.

Asian cricket rights sold

The media rights for Asian cricket in Pakistan have been sold to the state television for $5.2 million (approximately PKR 1.5 billion). These rights include two men's Asia Cups.

According to details, the Asia Cup will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28, featuring 19 matches. If both teams reach the final, three Pakistan-India matches are expected. Last year, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) sold 8-year media rights (from 2024 to 2031) to Sony India for $170 million (approximately PKR 47.26 billion). These rights include four men's and four women's Asia Cups, as well as emerging tournaments, totaling 119 matches.

Sony India demanded $12 million for broadcasting rights in Pakistan for the two Asia Cups, but none of the three competing Pakistani channels were willing to pay such a high amount.

According to them, the current market conditions do not support heavy investments with assured profits. There was also discussion about forming a consortium among channels.

However, a major development occurred recently when Pakistan's state television acquired the Asian cricket broadcasting rights from 2025 to 2027 for $5.2 million. Sony India is still negotiating with two private Pakistani channels, who may jointly purchase the rights. The Indian broadcaster aims to secure up to more $5 million from Pakistan.

The digital rights deal in Pakistan has already been finalized. It's worth noting that Pakistan's share in ACC media rights is approximately 25% (around $42.5 million). The digital rights are separate, and the majority of the revenue (around 65%) comes from India.