Babar Azam was criticized for playing slowly: Pakistan defeated Netherlands in the opening game of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The match was stuck for Salman Ali Aga’s team after being reduced from 97/2 to 114/7. Faheem Ashraf came to the rescue of the team and finished the game when 29 runs were needed from 12 balls.
However, Pakistan has a lot of work to do in the batting department. Sahibzada Farhan’s wicket started the downfall of Pakistan. Babar Azam, who was batting with the former, also gave away his wicket when the Men in Green were in complete control while chasing 148. Babar became the victim of Roelof van der Merwe after scoring 15 runs in 18 balls.
Babar Azam’s slow attitude questioned
Speaking about Babar’s slow attitude and not taking responsibility to finish the match, former Pakistan coach Basit Ali criticized him on YouTube show The Game Plan, where he was joined by Kamran Akmal.
Speaking on the channel, Basit Ali said, “I feel that Babar will not play in the next match of Pakistan. The anger I saw on the face of coach Mike Hesson… I do not think that he will play Babar at number 4 again in the next game.”
Babar Azam is not a superstar in T20I
Basit Ali was angry that Babar was being called Pakistan’s superstar in T20. He questioned, “If you call Babar Azam a superstar in ODIs or Tests, I might still agree. But in T20Is? Kahan se superstar hai? (How is he a superstar?) A batsman who moves from his regular batting position to bat at No. 4, and can’t even tell the management that he is not a No. 4 batsman! Doesn’t Babar know this?”
He further added, “Even a club cricketer will tell you that in T20, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf… all of them are better players than Babar in the format! Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub are also better T20 players than Babar.”
“Even Salman Ali Aga has shown that he is a better player at No. 3 than Babar. People have been none the wiser after what Steve Smith did to Babar Azam in the Big Bash League! He refused to give a single run to Babar to stop him from coming on strike. His game is not suited (for T20).”
Kamran Akmal feels that Babar should be removed
Kamran Akmal, replying to Basit Ali, said, “No. 4 par jabardasti fit karte hain. (The management is forcibly fitting him at No. 4). Why do we keep playing such games against teams like Netherlands? Because you are not making any system. You are forcing the players!”
To this, Basit Ali asked: “Has Babar Azam ever won us a game by batting when the required rate was 10 runs per over?” When Kamran asked whose fault it was, Basit Ali replied: “Babar ka kasoor hai! (Babar is at fault).”
Babar has come under the radar because of his slow approach in the most dynamic format of the game, as he needs to score runs quickly and play more impactful innings rather than longer innings. He was also criticized for his slow play in the Big Bash League.
Also read: Paul van Meekeren drops bombshell on Pakistan after T20 World Cup thriller: “They didn’t win the game”
