Pakistan’s matches in the Champions Trophy 2025 campaign were a big disaster, Team is not performing well in the group stage after losing all three matches. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made big changes to the squad for the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand.

The biggest shock was the exclusion of Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I squad against Newzland. Babar, who has been under pressure for his inconsistent performances, scored just 126 runs in three games in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, including a slow 64 in a losing effort in the Touranment. His struggles led to heavy criticism, with former cricketers like Shoaib Akhtar even calling him a "fraud".

Babar Azam's father, Azam Siddique, reacts to his son's exclusion from Pakistan's T20I squad for the upcoming New Zealand series 🇵🇰🗣️#BabarAzam #T20Is #Pakistan #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/ncbwvfuW7r

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 6, 2025

Babar’s father, Azam Siddique, came to his defense, hitting back at the PCB and critics in a fiery social media post on Instagram.

"The boss is always right. He was named in the ICC’s T20I Team of the Year, yet he was still dropped. That’s okay. He will prove himself in National T20 and PSL. Insha Allah, he will make a strong comeback. Former players should think before they speak. If someone replies to them, they might not be able to handle it. They are the past, and that chapter is closed," he wrote. He also slammed those questioning his support for Babar, saying a father will always stand by his son.

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Babar Azam Dropped as PCB Shakes Up Squad for New Zealand Tour

Aaqib Javed, Pakistan’s interim head coach and selector, explained that the team wants to develop a new playing style for modern-day T20 cricket.

"Most top teams have 70% different squads for T20s. We are also working on that before the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. We need players who play fearless cricket," Javed said in Lahore. With these changes, Pakistan is looking to rebuild and prepare for the big tournaments ahead like Asia Cup and T20 World Cup .