Rawalpindi: Ahead of the opening Test match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has clarified that he does not have final authority over team selection, stating that his primary duty is to maximise the potential of the squad handed to him by the selectors and coaching staff, Cricinfo reported.

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Pakistan, who currently sit at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–2027 standings, are playing a two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Day 1 of the first Test is underway in Rawalpindi, followed by the second Test in Lahore on November 17.

Speaking prior to the series opener, Babar explained that selection decisions lie outside his jurisdiction, though he does offer inputs to the management.

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"The 15 players I was given, my job is to get the best out of. The selection or deselection of players is not in my hands. The selectors and coaches have given us a team, and my job is to help them fight and produce match-winning performances. I can't tell you in public what exactly my role is, and what aspects my role does not extend to. I'll always talk freely about my role within the setup. I give my input, and then the selectors and coaches do their job," Babar remarked, as quoted by Cricinfo.

His comments follow recent last-minute alterations to Pakistan's squad for the series. Less than 48 hours before the first Test, selectors released Abdullah Fazal and Ali Usman while calling up four players, including three uncapped prospects.

This marks the second consecutive Test series where Pakistan's squad has seen major reshuffling following its initial announcement. During their preceding series against England, the team sent home seven players after the second Test, brought in seven replacements, and relieved both the head coach and bowling coach of their duties.

Addressing the team's direction, Babar emphasised the focus on integrating young talent alongside core senior members to foster development.

"Our team is quite young. We've tried to make a better combination of seniors and juniors. We'll give youngsters opportunities to express themselves and perform well, and to take our team to the next level," he stated.

Addressing his personal batting form, the Pakistan skipper expressed confidence in working through his lean patch on the field alongside the coaching team rather than stepping away from the game.

"I'm talking to coaches about what I can improve. We're talking about it and working on it. I think positively. As a senior player, you want to do your best. People have different opinions, but if I take a break, how will I improve? I try and improve all the time. If you don't perform, you learn where you're making mistakes. You can't be perfect, you can just try and keep improving. I think the more I play, the better I'll be. Every day, you're not making the same mistake. You might make different mistakes. I prepare myself in training and on the field. I work hard, and I have to believe the result will come," Babar said. (ANI)