In a surprising and somewhat controversial move, Pakistan opener and Peshawar Zalmi star Saim Ayub has excluded national batting icon Babar Azam from his Dream T20 World XI, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Speaking during the Zalmi Podcast, Saim was tasked with selecting his ideal T20 XI under a unique constraint: no more than two players from any one country.
Despite having the opportunity to include two Pakistani players, he selected only one—aggressive left-handed opener Fakhar Zaman—as his partner at the top of the order alongside Australia’s Travis Head.
The rest of the lineup followed a clear theme of aggressive intent and versatility.
England’s Jos Buttler was placed at No. 3, bringing his power-packed batting and wicketkeeping to the side.
West Indies’ Nicholas Pooran and South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen filled the middle-order roles, both known for their ability to accelerate and dominate in the later overs.
England’s Ben Stokes, renowned for his match-winning credentials, was selected at No. 6, adding all-round strength to the batting and bowling departments.
India’s Hardik Pandya, another utility all-rounder, rounded off the lower middle order with his pace bowling and aggressive stroke play.
For spin duties, Saim chose Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner—both specialists in controlling the flow of runs in the middle overs and picking up key wickets.
The pace attack featured a formidable duo in India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s Mitchell Starc, two of the most lethal fast bowlers in contemporary T20 cricket.
The exclusion of Babar Azam—Pakistan's most consistent and celebrated T20 batter—sparked immediate reactions across social media and cricketing circles.
Fans and pundits questioned the decision, considering Babar’s sustained performances and global reputation in the shortest format.
However, Saim’s selections appear to be driven by a shift in T20 philosophy, one that leans toward firepower, strike rate, and multi-dimensional players over classical batting anchors.
The young batter’s approach reflects a growing trend among the new generation of cricketers who prioritize aggressive strategies and impact players in the ultra-fast world of T20 cricket.