"Babar Azam Sells Cricket For Pakistan, Sponsors Are...": Ramiz Raja On Star Batter's Axing

Babar Azam's removal from Pakistan's Test squad for the second match against England sent shockwaves across the cricketing fraternity. The superstar batter paid the price of a string of inconsistent performances as the newly constituted Pakistan Cricket Board national selection committee sprung into action. Pakistan great Ramiz Raja, however, isn't impressed with the selectors' decision, calling it a' knee jerk reaction'. For Ramiz, Babar's absence from the team makes no sense as he isn't just an important player for the team but also a brand which brings Pakistan cricket money.

"I think it was a knee-jerk reaction [by the] new selectors. The general opinion was that he needed rest and he was taken out of the squad completely," Ramiz said in a chat on Sky Cricket.

"We need to understand that he sells cricket for Pakistan. There's always this debate that is happening right now in Pakistan - whether there's going to be another failure for Babar Azam or whether he's going to make a comeback. And that keeps things interesting," he added.

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"Pakistan's cricket team relies heavily on Babar Azam's prowess to attract sponsors. Unfortunately, aside from him, there's a lack of marketable talent and superstar appeal in the current Test squad."pic.twitter.com/XpCvFI0CFp

Babar isn't the only Pakistan star who was dropped, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah also suffering the same fate. In the trio's absence, Ramiz feels Pakistan's XI against England for the second Test doesn't even have a 'sellable commodity', which isn't a good thing from the sponsorship perspective.

"Right now, I don't see any sellable commodity in this Pakistan team ... sponsors are a little wary as well because a) Pakistan have