3 Players Whom PCB Can Drop To Bring Babar Azam Back In Pakistan Team

Babar Azam after win in PSL - (Source: AFP)

Babar Azam has been the talk of the town in Pakistan as the right-handed batter led his side Peshawar Zalmi to their 2nd PSL title. Notably, the right-handed batter led from front and silenced his critics in style.

Babar Azam had a great season scoring 588 runs in 11 innings. The 31-year-old averaged 73.50 with the bat and finished the tournament as the leading run-getter.

Babar Azam Knocks Selectors' Doors With Successful Campaign

The right-handed batter was under pressure before the start of PSL 2026 because he was struggling in T20Is and there were murmurs of his ouster from the team. Notably, Babar Azam had a flop T20 World Cup, where he scored just 91 runs in four innings.

Also, the 31-year-old was kicked out of the ODI team, facing pressure to perform in PSL because it was a make or break season for Babar Azam. 

Now, the star batter grabbed opportunities with both hands and has knocked selectors and PCB's doors to bring him back in scheme of things in white-ball cricket. Therefore, this article will shed light on 3 players whom PCB can drop to bring Babar Azam back in Pakistan team.

(Babar Azam's figures in PSL 2026)

Also Read: David Warner Openly Questions Mohsin Naqvi-Led PCB's Fairness After Leaving Pakistan

3 Players PCB Can Drop To Bring Babar Azam Back In Pakistan Team

T20Is - Saim Ayub

Babar Azam was not dropped from the T20I team but the T20 World Cup 2026 would have certainly been his last stint with Pakistan team if he had failed in PSL 2026. Now, since Babar has delivered, he is most likely to replace Saim Ayub in the team.

During PSL 2026, Babar Azam opened the innings for Peshawar Zalmi, a bit different from playing in the middle-order for Pakistan. Therefore, to bring the best out of Babar Azam, PCB might push him back to the top, which means that Saim Ayub will have to make way for the veteran as Sahibzada Farhan is enjoying the best phase of his career.

Shedding light of Saim Ayub, the southpaw has been struggling with the bat for a long time now. Ayub scored just 70 runs during T20 World Cup 2026 and 258 runs in 13 innings in PSL 2026.

Overall, Saim Ayub hasn't achieved much in T20 cricket, which is why it might not be tough for PCB to drop the southpaw to bring in Babar Azam.

ODIs - Shamyl Hussain

After the T20 World Cup, Pakistan travelled to Bangladesh for a ODI series. Interestingly, Babar Azam, who hasn't done much wrong in this format, was dropped from the team, raising concerns that the PCB has moved past the veteran.

However, if he is set to return to ODIs after PSL heroics, then Shamyl Hussain might be the one to go out. The 21-year-old made his debut in the above-mentioned series but failed to impress the fans.

The southpaw played two innings for Pakistan and scored just 10 runs. Therefore, Babar Azam is most likely to replace Hussain.

ODIs - Sahibzada Farhan

Sahibzada Farhan is another interesting name that Babar Azam might replace if the PCB decides that the right-handed batter should also open the innings in ODIs. Further, Sahibzada Farhan made his ODI debut in Bangladesh as well.

Farhan scored 64 runs in three innings and failed to repliacte his T20I heroics in the fifty-over format.

Also Read: Ruturaj Gaikwad Explains What Led To Tilak Varma-Jamie Overton Fight