Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali criticized Babar Azam for agreeing to bat at number four during the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Ali said the star player should have rebelled against head coach Mike Hesson and compared him with Indian batsman Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket.
Babar was demoted in the batting order during the recent tournament. He started the tournament at number 4. Pakistan team management dropped him for the Super 8 match against Sri Lanka. Notably, the batsman did not get a chance to bat against Namibia, as the all-rounders were promoted ahead of him.
Babar Azam should not have accepted the decision to bat at number 4 – Basit Ali
Speaking on the show ‘Game Plan’, Basit Ali said that Babar Azam does not have the courage to challenge the Pakistan team management. Giving the example of Virat Kohli moving away from Test cricket, he said that great players decide the terms of their career themselves.
Basit said, “Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman have no voice. How did they agree to bat in the middle order? I have just one example. Virat Kohli was not made the captain, he said, ‘OK bye’. Virat Kohli. He retired; he should have been made the captain for the England series.”
“He was told that as far as captaincy is concerned, you are not in our plans. He said, ‘Okay, Tata, bye-bye.’ He has no shortage of money. Babar should not have accepted the decision to bat at number 4. If I were his close associate, I would have asked him to refuse. You threw him under the bus,”
You will be sidelined – Kamran Akmal
Former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal said that out-of-form players like Babar Azam cannot challenge the Pakistan team management. He said only veteran players like Younis Khan have the right to make such a demand without facing serious consequences.
Akmal said, “No player dares to go against the team management. I have seen Younis Khan stick to his position. As a player, you cannot say such things. If you say such things, you will be sidelined.”
He said, “When the form is not there, no player says such things. He was not in form before the Champions Trophy. He had given up the captaincy. Even big players agree with such things. Form is very important. When the form is not there, any batsman will even agree to bat at number 8.”
Babar Azam is facing criticism amid poor form.
Babar Azam is currently facing criticism from fans and cricket experts. Some people claim that during his captaincy he created a special inner circle to serve personal interests over the team. His reputation has been damaged by these allegations.
Babar seems tired of the continuous criticism on social media. The ongoing negativity surrounding his international career has added to the pressure, especially after his recent batting struggles.
The chances of a strong comeback remain uncertain. He may still get opportunities because Pakistan lacks strong options. However, many cricket fans believe that it is unfortunate to see such a talented player struggling.
Also Read: ‘I was heartbroken’: Sanju Samson reveals Gautam Gambhir’s ‘mental torture’ during T20 World Cup 2026
