Pakistan’s star cricketers Babar Azam and Naseem Shah have pulled out of the National T20 Cup, opting to skip the domestic tournament amid a packed schedule.
The two were initially expected to participate, but their withdrawal marks a shift in their approach to preparing for upcoming international matches. The National T20 Cup was seen as a crucial opportunity for Babar and Naseem to push for a return to Pakistan’s T20I squad after being dropped for the New Zealand series.
Reports suggest their decision is influenced by Pakistan’s upcoming ODI series against New Zealand and the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which kicks off next month. Babar, one of Pakistan’s top T20I run-scorers last year, was left out of the squad due to concerns over his strike rate. Meanwhile, Naseem, who recently returned from injury, was also overlooked for the New Zealand series.
Both players have been under increased scrutiny following a disappointing Champions Trophy campaign, where their individual performances fell short of expectations.
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In another development, Mohammad Rizwan, who was also dropped from the T20I squad and replaced as vice-captain by Agha Salman, is unlikely to feature in the National T20 Cup. While early reports suggested he might participate, his name is missing from the final squad list, ruling out the chance for him, Babar, and Naseem to gain domestic match practice.
Despite their absence from the National T20 Cup, all three players will be part of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series, giving them an opportunity to reestablish themselves ahead of key white-ball tournaments.
