LAHOR
\nFormer Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed has sparked debate by urging national stars Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan to consider retiring from international cricket.
\nThis comes following their omission from Pakistan\u2019s recently announced squad for the upcoming UAE T20 Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025.
\nTanveer took to social media platform \u2018X\u2019 and urged the star duo to make a decision based on their own sense of respect and career principles.
\n\u201cMy 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.\u201d
\nThe 46-year-old also raised concerns about the team selection process, questioning the rationale behind the inclusion of certain players.
\nHe specifically highlighted the situation involving Pakistan\u2019s opening batsman Fakhar Zaman.
\nThe left-handed opening batter was sidelined during the recently concluded three-match ODI series against West Indies due to a left hamstring strain sustained in the second T20I.
\n\u201cWas Fakhar Zaman forced into the team, or was he included to prevent Babar Azam from being selected? How did Fakhar Zaman get in?\u201d he questioned.
\nIt is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 17-member squad on Sunday for the UAE T20 Tri-Series and the Asia Cup 2025.
\nThe tri-series, featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, and hosts UAE, will be held in Sharjah from August 29 to September 7, followed by the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 28.
\nDuring a press conference, Pakistan\u2019s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson justified retaining pacer Salman Mirza for the upcoming events.
\n\u201cWe have retained Salman Mirza because of his performance in Bangladesh,\u201d Hesson said.
\nThe 31-year-old Mirza impressed as the leading wicket-taker of the series, claiming seven wickets across three matches at an economy rate of 5.21.
\nFor the unversed, Babar and Rizwan last played a short-format match for Pakistan during their game against South Africa in Centurion back in December 2024.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHOR Former Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed has sparked debate by urging national stars Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan to consider retiring from international cricket. This comes following their omission from Pakistan\u2019s recently announced squad for the upcoming UAE T20 Tri-Series and Asia Cup 2025. Tanveer took to social media platform \u2018X\u2019 and urged the star […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":497360,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-497349","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n