Babar has not played T20Is since last year and was left out of the upcoming tri-series and Asia Cup squad
18 August, 2025
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PHOTO: PCB
“You must know about Generation Z. Among the youngsters who follow cricket, most of them don’t really like players such as Rizwan, Shaheen, Hasan Ali, Nawaz, or Haris. For them, Pakistan has only one real superstar – Babar Azam – and you people have sidelined him. How will you ever become a cricketing powerhouse again this way?”
When a former cricketer living abroad said this to me, I was forced to think seriously. This person not only has deep insight into cricketing affairs but also remains in contact with fans all over the world.
When I reminded him that Babar hasn’t scored a century for two years and it seems as though his peak might already be behind him, he replied: “The player who has been chosen in his place, is he Brian Lara or Sir Don Bradman? In recent years, no cricketer in Pakistan comes close to Babar. Unfortunately, Pakistanis themselves are the ones pulling him down. The PCB should have placed him on a pedestal, but instead, by dropping him, they have shattered his confidence. Believe me, people have stopped watching Pakistan’s matches. Their interest is fading day by day. It’s only because of players like Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, and now Hasan Nawaz that some youngsters are still drawn towards cricket. Otherwise, the situation would be even worse. Now we’ve reached the point where bowlers celebrate wildly when they dismiss tailenders – as if they’ve taken Virat Kohli’s wicket – and then those celebrations are plastered all over social media.”
“But Babar is also at fault,” I said.
“Instead of focusing on his batting, he got too involved in captaincy and politics. Had he stepped away from leadership and focused solely on batting like Kohli eventually did, things might not have come to this. The people around him are also opportunists, always using him for their own benefit,” I added.
The ex-cricketer responded: “I agree with you on that. Babar should never have gotten caught up in captaincy. But the truth is, he never had proper guidance. Agents and hangers-on only care about making money, not about the player’s well-being. The PCB should protect its brand. They should hire an international consultant to work with Babar and improve his image.”
“Image or cricket?” I asked.
He said: “Babar’s cricket has no flaws. He’s still among the best batters in the world. The real problem is mental. You’ve destroyed his confidence. Now he plays with fear, constantly worried that if he fails, he’ll be dropped from ODIs too. Not only Pakistanis, but fans in America, India, Australia – all over the world – love Babar. He should be valued. I will personally send a message to the board officials about this.”
I replied: “Sending messages won’t help. PCB officials act like Salman Khan in Wanted – once they’ve made a decision, they don’t even listen to themselves.”
He laughed and said: “First of all, Salman didn’t say ‘decision,’ he said ‘commitment.’ Secondly, films and real life are very different. Here there’s no script you must follow. Nothing is set in stone. If the selectors made a mistake, they should fix it and bring Babar back. Otherwise, how will you beat India?”
“But even with Babar, we haven’t beaten India in recent matches. What guarantee is there that bringing him back will change anything?” I asked.
With a sarcastic tone, he replied: “Remember the 2021 T20 World Cup when Pakistan thrashed India by 10 wickets? Weren’t you and I the ones who shared a 150-run stand that day?”
I said: “You can’t judge an entire career on the basis of just one match.”
He shot back: “Then bring in someone better than Babar. If you can, don’t play him. But mark my words – Pakistan-India matches will no longer carry the same hype. Even the money from TV rights will start to dry up. Teams need stars who perform and attract fans. Pakistan has failed to value its biggest star. Former players, media, the PCB – all have played a role in bringing Babar to this state. He has been criticized so heavily that his confidence has been shattered. Now, instead of just batting naturally, he probably worries only about his strike rate while at the crease.”
“You’re forgetting,” I said.
“That the same former players, media, social media, and fans were the ones who made him ‘King Babar.’ But if he’s not performing, how can they continue to support him?” I added.
He replied: “Everyone sides with the rising star. When Babar was performing, they praised him endlessly. Now they’ve abandoned him. The truth is, nobody needs support in good times. It’s in difficult times that you stand by someone – that’s when he can get back on track. Forget about others, at least you should support him. Babar deserves to return to the team.”
With that, he hung up the phone.
Although I don’t fully agree with everything he said, one thing is undeniable: right now, Pakistan has no batter like Babar Azam. What do you think – should the selectors bring him back into the team? Share your views with me on social media.
