{
  "id": 18900201,
  "title": "Babar Azam says selection not in his hands as youthful Pakistan face Sri Lanka",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/babar-azam-says-selection-not-in-his-hands-as-youthful-pakistan-face",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T08:37:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2043046/babar-azam-says-selection-not-in-his-hands-as-youthful-pakistan-face-sri-lanka"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan captain Babar Azam clarified that team selection is determined by the selectors and coach, stating his responsibility is to bring out the best performances from the available players. He responded to questions about certain players being omitted from the squad despite recent appearances, explaining that the team was selected after discussions between the selectors and management. Babar emphasized that his role is to field the 15 players and get them to perform well. The captain spoke at a pre-series press conference on Sunday, noting that the team is preparing for a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He highlighted that the squad has been revamped following their poor performance in the previous phase of the World Test Championship. Babar expressed the team's focus on the upcoming series and the potential of the young players, aiming to provide them opportunities to excel. Pakistan currently sits at the ninth position in the 2025-27 WTC standings, while Sri Lanka is seventh. Despite these rankings, Babar urged the team to focus on the future and learn from past experiences. The captain also mentioned his personal goal of regaining form after a long wait for a Test century. The first Test between the two teams will be held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 9 to 13, with the second Test at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from November 17 to 21.",
  "summary": "Pakistan captain Babar Azam says team selection is the responsibility of the selectors and coach, adding that his role is to get the best out of the players available to him as a youthful Pakistan side prepares to face Sri Lanka in the opening Test of a two-match series on Monday. Responding to questions about the omission of certain players despite their not having featured in recent matches,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Azam says new Pakistan Test squad ready to fight against Sri Lanka",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/azam-says-new-pakistan-test-squad-ready-to-fight-against-sri-lanka",
        "published": "2026-11-08T09:18:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}