Sat May 17 17:50:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**Babar Azam’s World T20 XI Sparks Controversy: Kohli and Bumrah Snubbed**
**LAHORE, PAKISTAN** – Pakistan’s batting sensation, Babar Azam, has ignited a firestorm of debate after unveiling his World T20 XI, notably omitting Indian superstars Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. The surprising selections, revealed during a podcast on Zalmi TV, have left cricket fans worldwide scratching their heads.
While Azam, captain of Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), acknowledged the immense talent of both Kohli and Bumrah, he opted for a maximum of two players per country. This resulted in the inclusion of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav as India’s representatives in his dream team.
Azam’s World T20 XI is: Rohit Sharma (India), Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan), Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan), Suryakumar Yadav (India), Jos Buttler (England), David Miller (South Africa), Marco Jansen (South Africa), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Pat Cummins (Australia), Mitchell Starc (Australia), and Mark Wood (England).
The omission of Kohli and Bumrah, considered among the greatest players in the format, is particularly striking. Bumrah is widely regarded as a world-class bowler across all formats, while Kohli’s batting prowess is undeniable.
The announcement comes amid a week where Azam found himself on the receiving end of some light-hearted banter from England’s Sam Billings. Billings re-shared a post highlighting the contrasting records of the two players in the PSL, with Billings achieving the fastest fifty in the 2025 edition (19 balls) and Azam recording the slowest (47 balls).
In other PSL news, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced the resumption of PSL 2025 on May 17, with the final scheduled for May 25. The tournament was recently suspended due to rising tensions, but is now set to conclude with 8 thrilling matches.
First Piper 