In a dramatic turn of events following Pakistan’s crushing defeat to India in the Asia Cup T20 match held in Dubai, popular TV host and comedian Tabish Hashmi pointed fingers at former captain Babar Azam, despite the star batter not even being part of the playing XI.
During a post-match segment on his show, Hashmi was asked who he held responsible for Pakistan’s loss. Without hesitation, he quipped, “Of course, Babar Azam is to blame because he wasn’t in the team today.” The sarcastic remark sparked laughter, but also drew attention to ongoing debates about the team’s composition and past leadership decisions.
Former skipper Rashid Latif, who appeared alongside Hashmi, backed the statement with a more analytical take. “Babar Azam is the one who introduced players like Saim Ayub as bowlers. He had Saim bowl during the PSL, so you can’t ignore his role in shaping this current squad,” Latif remarked, subtly defending the strategic choices that stemmed from Babar’s captaincy era.
The loss to India has once again ignited criticism of Pakistan’s selection strategy and team management, as fans and analysts continue to dissect what went wrong in a high-stakes regional clash.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped former captains Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in T20 revamp in December 2024 and announced a new team.
The new T20I captain is Salman Ali Agha who was appointed captain in his fourth game after full-time leader Rizwan was rested against Zimbabwe in December 2024. One series later, he had assumed the role full-time, and somehow retained it through both a change of coach and team philosophy.
Meanwhile, many social media users are questioning the team selection and captaincy. People are saying dropping Babar and Rizwan has cost Pakistan heavily. Others are recalling Babar and Rizwan’s performance against India with a 10-wicket win. It was Pakistan’s 13th attempt to finally beat India in the World Cups.