Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam stated that he does not have the final authority on team selection ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. He explained that the selectors and coaches decide the squad, while his duty is to maximise the performance of the chosen players, according to Cricinfo.
Pakistan, currently positioned at the bottom of the World Test Championship 2025-2027 standings, will face Sri Lanka with the first Test commencing on November 9 in Rawalpindi and the second on November 17 in Lahore.
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Addressing the media before the series opener, Babar said, “The 15 players I was given, my job is to get the best out of. The selection or deselection of players is not in my hands. The selectors and coaches have given us a team, and my job is to help them fight and produce match-winning performances. I can’t tell you in public what exactly my role is, and what aspects my role does not extend to. I’ll always talk freely about my role within the setup. I give my input, and then the selectors and coaches do their job.”
His comments followed last-minute changes to Pakistan’s squad for the series. Less than 48 hours before the first Test, Abdullah Fazal and Ali Usman were dropped, while four players were added, three of whom have yet to debut in Test cricket.
This represents the second squad reshuffle in two Tests. Prior to the third Test against England, Pakistan replaced seven players with seven new ones and also removed the head coach and bowling coach.
Babar emphasised the focus on blending youth and experience, stating, “Our team is quite young. We’ve tried to make a better combination of seniors and juniors. We’ll give youngsters opportunities to express themselves and perform well, and to take our team to the next level.”
Regarding his recent form, Babar said he is working with coaches to improve and dismissed the idea that a break from cricket would benefit him. “I’m talking to coaches about what I can improve. We’re talking about it and working on it. I think positively. As a senior player, you want to do your best. People have different opinions, but if I take a break, how will I improve? I try and improve all the time. If you don’t perform, you learn where you’re making mistakes. You can’t be perfect, you can just try and keep improving. I think the more I play, the better I’ll be. Every day, you’re not making the same mistake. You might make different mistakes. I prepare myself in training and on the field. I work hard, and I have to believe the result will come,” he said.
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