COLOMBO: Pakistan T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan has said star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan can return to the national T20I squad at any time.
Speaking at a pre-series press conference ahead of Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka, Farhan praised the experienced duo while discussing the team’s current composition and future prospects.
“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are the best players in the world. Babar and Rizwan can return to T20 cricket at any time,” Farhan said.
Babar, Rizwan Among Pakistan’s Top T20I Run-Scorers
Babar and Rizwan remain among Pakistan’s leading run-scorers in T20Is.
Babar has scored 4,596 runs in the format, while Rizwan has accumulated 3,414 runs.
Babar’s most recent T20I appearance came against England at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 24 this year during the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Rizwan last represented Pakistan in T20Is in 2024 against South Africa.
Neither player is part of the current T20I squad. Babar is set to feature in Pakistan’s upcoming ODI and Test assignments.
Rizwan, meanwhile, is currently under investigation following a case registered with the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).
Farhan Comfortable With Captaincy Role
Farhan said he was comfortable with the responsibilities of leading the national T20I side.
The newly appointed captain added that he was not concerned about how long he would remain in the role.
“Captaincy is not a major issue for me because I have already led teams in domestic cricket,” he said.
Farhan has previously captained teams in domestic cricket before taking charge of the national T20I side.
Farhan Praises Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Leadership
The Pakistan captain also praised former national skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, under whom he played extensively.
Farhan identified Sarfaraz as one of his leadership role models and praised his calm approach.
“I have played a lot under Sarfaraz Ahmed’s captaincy, and I really liked his leadership. He was very relaxed, treated everyone exceptionally well on the field, and created a positive environment. I look up to him a lot,” he said.
