PAK vs AUS: Former Pakistan and England cricketer defend Babar Azam amid online criticism

Former Pakistan and England cricketers Ramiz Raja and Nasser Hussain showered praise on former Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Returning to the ODI lineup after stepping down from his captaincy role, Babar Azam made a steady comeback in the opening clash of Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against Australia, scoring 37 runs off 44 balls with four elegantly timed boundaries.

In a recent interview, former England skipper Nasser Hussain spoke about Babar’s return, emphasizing the importance of mental breaks for top players.

"Who am I to advise one of the greats? All great players go through these sorts of periods. Sometimes, it’s just a mental break that’s needed—a chance to rest, step away from the game, and return refreshed. Babar needed that time out, and now, all it might take is one innings, or even just a couple of boundaries, to regain his rhythm. Hopefully, for Pakistan fans, they’ll soon see the Babar Azam they know—the Babar of old, in his best form once again," Hussain noted.

Meanwhile, former PCB chief and Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja, in his recent YouTube commentary, called for respect toward Babar, expressing disappointment at online criticism directed at the player.

“If you got a player like Babar Azam by mistake, you should respect him. Babar played better than all Pakistani batters in the first ODI against Australia. I get disappointed when I see keyboard warriors trolling and abusing Babar,” Ramiz stated.

In the match, Pakistan was limited to 203 runs in 46.4 overs, with Mohammad Rizwan’s gritty 44 off 71 balls leading the way. Naseem Shah’s late contribution of 40 from 39 balls was crucial in adding runs to the board. However, Australia’s bowlers maintained control, setting up a manageable chase.

Australia’s innings saw steady knocks from key players, with Pat Cummins anchoring them to the target of 204 for the loss of 8 wickets in just 33.3 overs. Despite strong performances from Haris Rauf (3 wickets) and Shaheen Afridi (2 wickets), Pakistan’s fielding and discipline issues proved costly, with 21 extras conceded, including 17 wides.

Pakistan’s decision to field an all-pace attack, led by Rizwan, fell short as the bowlers struggled to control the extras in a low-scoring contest. Australia now holds a 1-0 lead in the series, with Pakistan looking to rebound in the second ODI on November 8 in Adelaide.

Pakistan ODI Squad for Australia Tour: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi.