**Babar Azam, Naseem Shah Fail to Impress in National T20 Cup 2025**
After being omitted from the T20I series against New Zealand, Babar Azam and Naseem Shah turned out for Lahore Blues in the National T20 Cup 2025.
Initially, reports suggested both players had opted out of the tournament. However, they were both named in the Lahore Blues playing XI for their clash against Karachi Whites.
In a match against Karachi Whites, the two star players, once mainstays of Pakistan’s team across all formats, failed to make an impact as Lahore Blues fell to a 37-run defeat.
Naseem Shah had a forgettable outing, going wicketless in his four overs while conceding 41 runs. His inconsistent line and length played into the hands of the Karachi Whites batsmen, and he was unable to provide breakthroughs when his team needed them.
The defending champions, Karachi Whites, posted a challenging 172-run total, ultimately proving too much for Lahore Blues to chase.
Babar Azam, opening the innings for Lahore Blues, made a promising start, scoring 22 runs off 17 balls, including three boundaries. Unfortunately, he couldn’t convert his start into a significant score, leaving his team’s chances of a successful chase dwindling.
It’s worth mentioning that Babar Azam was not initially included in the Lahore Blues squad, and his participation in the tournament had been uncertain.