Salman Agha Rejects Claims Pakistan Missed Babar and Rizwan in Asia Cup

Pakistan’s defeat to India in the 2025 Asia Cup final has reignited debate among cricket fans over the possible return of seasoned batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to the T20I squad. However, captain Salman Ali Agha has rejected the idea.

Speaking at a press conference after the match in Dubai, Agha dismissed suggestions that the absence of the two senior players cost Pakistan the title. When asked if he felt the team lacked their experience, he was clear in his response, stressing that the side had already proven its strength in recent months.

“This same team was scoring 170–180 runs,” Agha said. “Before the Asia Cup, we were doing well — we even won the tri-series and reached the Asia Cup final. It’s not about missing any individual, we just didn’t finish well today. We still think this is a good team.”

Pakistan reached the final after wins against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka but fell short against India in a tense contest, with their batting lineup once again struggling. Without Babar and Rizwan, the side faltered in nearly every match, and Agha himself endured a poor run with the bat. The problems resurfaced in the final, where Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for just 33 runs, giving India a decisive edge.

Despite late resistance from Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Afridi, the total proved insufficient to defend.

The discussion over Pakistan’s batting order and the role of established stars is expected to continue ahead of the upcoming T20I series against South Africa. Reports suggest the PCB may consider recalling Babar Azam, while Rizwan could also return based on Mohammad Haris’ Asia Cup form — regardless of Agha’s stance.

For now, Agha has underlined that he believes the current squad has enough depth and balance to compete without relying on former mainstays.

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