what happened to babar azam

Babar Azam has been left out of Pakistan's squad for the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 following a series of poor performances and criticism of his captaincy and batting form. After Pakistan's early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, Babar stepped down as T20I captain but was initially kept in the team for a chance at redemption. However, he struggled in series against Australia and South Africa, which led to his removal from the T20I setup altogether. The key issues cited include his low strike rate in T20 cricket and failure to establish authority as captain, which pressured the Pakistan Cricket Board and team management to exclude him from the squad. Although some fans and former players have called for his comeback, as of September 2025, he has not been reinstated. The current Pakistan team under new leadership has been performing well, but Babar's future in the team remains uncertain. Head coach Mike Hesson has acknowledged Babar's need to improve and indicated opportunities like the Big Bash League could help him return if he demonstrates progress. In summary, Babar Azam's recent absence from Pakistan's cricket team is due to a dip in form, leadership criticism, and strategic decisions by the team management amid efforts to rebuild and find success without him in the short term.