Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is being considered for a potential comeback to the national T20I team for the tri-series and the ACC Asia Cup 2025, according to reports.

Well, it all circles back to Fakhar Zaman’s latest injury setback, which has not only ruled him out of the West Indies ODIs but also thrown his Asia Cup availability into serious doubt.

Fakhar’s Injury Shakes Up Plans

Fakhar suffered a hamstring injury during the recent T20I series in Florida. He missed the third T20I and has now been sidelined from the ODI leg of the tour as well.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has since directed him to report to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for rehabilitation.

While there’s still hope he could recover in time for the Asia Cup, insiders suggest the board is preparing a backup plan, just in case.

Babar the Backup…

Enter Babar Azam. According to sources, the PCB sees him as a reliable senior figure who could step in if Fakhar doesn’t regain fitness. But it’s not just a matter of seniority.

The door to Babar’s return hinges heavily on his performance in the ODI series against the West Indies. If he impresses the selectors, a spot in the Asia Cup squad could very well be his.

It’s also worth noting that Babar recently held a sideline meeting with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, joined by Mohammad Rizwan and Naseem Shah, during the second T20I. While details of the conversation haven’t been made public, the timing suggests something is brewing.

Final Squad in the Works

The Asia Cup squad is expected to be announced in the second week of August, which means the upcoming ODIs will be crucial not just for Babar, but for a few other fringe players as well.

For now, it’s all speculation, but one thing is clear: if Babar Azam delivers with the bat in the Caribbean, we might see him in the T20I side in September.

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