Mohammad Yousuf Questions Babar Azam’s Exclusion from ODI Squad Against Bangladesh

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has expressed strong surprise and disappointment over the exclusion of star batter Babar Azam from Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Bangladesh.

In a statement on the social media platform X, Mohammad Yousuf said that including Babar Azam in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad had already been surprising, but leaving him out of the ODI team was even more puzzling if the decision was not made to give him rest.

He questioned who was making such “illogical decisions” regarding team selection.

#BabarAzam’s inclusion in the #T20WorldCup was surprising, but his exclusion now, if it’s not simply a case of being rested is mind boggling. Who is making these senseless decisions.

— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) March 4, 2026

The decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes after Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. The team needed a victory by 65 runs against Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight match but fell short of the required margin.

Although Babar Azam did not perform as expected during the tournament, scoring only 91 runs in six innings, his recent ODI form had been impressive. In the latest ODI series against Sri Lanka, he scored 165 runs in three matches, including the 20th ODI century of his career.

Yousuf’s remarks have sparked debate among cricket fans and analysts about the selection decisions and the future role of Babar Azam in Pakistan’s limited-overs squads. 🏏