Tag: Babar Azam

Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has reignited debate on social media after questioning Babar Azam’s leadership qualities during his captaincy stint.

Speaking on a podcast on a YouTube channel, Butt acknowledged Babar’s stature as one of the best batters in the world but argued that captaincy was never his strong suit.

“I don’t think Babar was one of those players who had that kind of leadership bond you mentioned. I’ve been very clear about this since the time he was captain. Yes, he reached a T20 World Cup final, an Asia Cup final, but it wasn’t his leadership that took us there,” Butt said.

He pointed to an instance from the last T20 World Cup, where Pakistan suffered a shocking loss against the USA.

“Babar was once asked about that Super Over decision, whether he was the one to give Mohammad Amir the super over. His answer was that it was a collective decision with the coach involved. That is not a captain’s answer. To come out on the mic and express that shows weakness that you cannot own a decision,” Butt explained.

The former opener stressed that Babar’s persona is not that of a natural leader.

“I think we should have preserved him as a top top player and let others take the responsibility. His persona is not that of a leader. Being a great player doesn’t make you a captain,” he declared. 

Butt is not the first to question Babar’s captaincy. Despite leading Pakistan in 148 matches across all formats with a win percentage of 56.7, his tenure did not deliver any major trophies. While his batting remained world-class, criticism over his tactical decisions eventually led to him stepping down from the role.

After facing criticism over his strike rate in the T20 format, Babar Azam was dropped from the team. His last international T20 match was on December 13, 2024, against South Africa in Centurion. He is also not part of the squad for the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

White-ball head coach Mike Hesson also made it clear that he needs to improve his strike rate to make a comeback in the team.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is likely to lose his place in Category A of the upcoming Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) central contracts list, media reports have stated. 

New central contracts are in the final stages of preparation and are expected to be announced next week. Sources said Babar Azam may not retain his Category A spot after a spare of poor performances, while major changes are also expected in the list.

T20 captain Salman Ali Agha and spinner Abrar Ahmed are expected to be promoted, while Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, and Khushdil Shah are also in line for contracts.

Reports added that Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, and Sufiyan Muqeem are likely to be included, but Usman Khan, Haseebullah, and Khurram Shahzad will miss out.

Last year, PCB awarded central contracts to 25 players. This time the number will increase to 30. In the previous contracts, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan secured Category A, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was surprisingly demoted to Category B. Fakhar Zaman and Sarfaraz Ahmed were dropped completely. Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, and Tayyab Tahir also missed out on deals.

Players in Category A currently receive PKR 6.57 million per month, Category B players earn PKR 4.55 million, Category C players get PKR 2.03 million, and Category D players are paid PKR 1.26 million.

PCB has increased the retainer budget by 37 percent, raising it to PKR 1,173.49 million, although monthly salaries and match fees will remain the same as last year.

Reports further revealed that this may be the final year players receive three percent of ICC revenue share, as the current three-year agreement will expire next year.

Babar has not been included in the national squad for the upcoming tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan, as well as the Asia Cup 2025.

Australian Big Bash League (BBL) team Sydney Sixers have signed Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam in the Platinum category for the league’s 15th season. The Sixers used their pre-draft signing right to secure Babar as their overseas pick.

Babar Azam will be available for the entire BBL season, earning him the maximum Platinum player salary of AUD $420,000, an estimated PKR 10 crore. This amount notably exceeds the standard base price of PKR 7.75 crore for Platinum picks.

The 30-year-old Babar has scored over 10,000 international runs. As a former ICC Cricketer of the Year, he has made his mark in both One Day International (ODIs) and Twenty20 (T20Is), earning a place among the world’s top batters.

He led Pakistan across all three formats from 2019 to 2024, taking the team into the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final in 2021 and the final in 2022.

Besides Babar, more than 70 Pakistani players have registered for the BBL 15 draft, set to take place on June 19.

Big Bash League (BBL) team Sydney Sixers has shared a teaser video on social media, hinting at a major signing, possibly Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam.

The short clip shows a player who appears to be Babar wearing a Sixers jersey, sparking excitement among fans and leading many to believe he could be set to play in the BBL for the first time. While the franchise hasn’t confirmed the name yet, it has announced that the signing will be officially revealed on June 13 at 7 PM (local time).

This potential signing comes just ahead of the BBL Season 15 overseas players draft, which is set to take place on June 19.

Cricket Australia recently released the first list of international players available for the draft. It includes several big names from Pakistan, such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan. Other international stars include England’s Sam Curran and Alex Hales, New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, and West Indies’ rising fast bowler Shamar Joseph.

This year, the BBL and WBBL drafts have been moved earlier to help teams better plan their squads. According to Cricket Australia, more than 600 overseas players have shown interest in playing in the upcoming season.

The Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers will get the first picks in the BBL and WBBL drafts. Each draft will have four rounds, with teams selecting one player per round. Players are divided into four salary categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to 13 players, including top stars Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, allowing them to participate in foreign T20 leagues.

A video of former Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam involved in a tense exchange with fans has been circulating on social media.

 The incident reportedly occurred outside a mosque following Jumma prayers. While it remains unclear what exactly provoked the heated moment, Babar appears visibly upset in the footage, prompting a wave of online reactions.

Some users were quick to criticise, with one commenting, “Hum ne socha tha Babar bhai Ricky Ponting banege lekin ye to Rajab Butt ban rahe hain.” 

Others, however, jumped to the star batter’s defence, suggesting that the public often crosses boundaries and invades personal space.

“This can’t be the entire story. That fan must have done something, and I know they often do,” one user wrote. Another added, “Jahil log kabhi nahi sudhr sakte, Babar hamesha izzat karta hai apne fans ki.”

According to sources familiar with the situation, Babar regularly visits this mosque when not representing the national team. Eyewitnesses claimed the crowd became unruly after spotting the cricketer, with some fans reportedly trying to approach him for selfies aggressively. 

It merits mention that Babar Azam has been dropped from the ongoing T20I series against Bangladesh.

Babar’s public confrontation isn’t an isolated case. In 2024, fast bowler Haris Rauf found himself in a similar situation while visiting the United States with his wife. A fan allegedly hurled disrespectful comments at Rauf’s family after the pacer declined to take a photo. A video later emerged showing Haris confronting the individual, visibly angry and emotionally charged.

Rauf addressed the situation on social media, stating, “As public figures, we are open to receiving all kinds of feedback from the public… Nevertheless, when it comes to my parents and my family, I will not hesitate to respond accordingly.”

Earlier this year, star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi also faced trouble when an overenthusiastic crowd caused chaos during a charity match in Lahore. While attempting to leave the venue, Afridi was mobbed by fans, some even tried to pull his shirt to take selfies.

Pakistani cricket star Babar Azam caught the public’s eye after posting an Instagram story showing himself driving his luxury Audi e-Tron GT at a speed of 171 km/h. However, the story was deleted shortly after being uploaded, possibly amid backlash or to avoid trouble.

The video sparked mixed reactions on social media. While some fans made light of the situation, others expressed concern over the safety implications.

One user on X wrote, “Isi speed sy comeback karlo Babar bhai”, referencing his return to form. Another said, “What is this behaviour, Bobzy the King?”

One fan playfully commented, “SPEED Thora ahista sir, itni b kya jaldi ha?” while another urged caution, saying, “171 km/h on Pakistani roads? Stay safe, champ ❤”

This isn’t the first time the former national captain has been caught speeding. In September 2023, he was reportedly fined by the Punjab Motorway Police for exceeding the speed limit on a highway. He was behind the wheel of his Audi e-Tron GT. Although the exact fine amount was not disclosed, media reports confirmed that the cricketer was stopped by authorities and penalised.

However, Babar Azam has not issued any public statement regarding the recent incident or the removal of his Instagram story.

Young Pakistani left-handed batter Saim Ayub of Peshawar Zalmi has named his dream T20 International XI, leaving fans shocked with the decision to leave former skipper and Pakistan Super League (PSL) teammate Babar Azam as well as Pakistan’s top pacer Shaheen Afridi out of the squad.

Speaking on the Off-Topic Zalmi Podcast, the 21-year-old rising talent was asked to choose his ideal T20I lineup from currently active players. The only rule was that no more than two players could be selected from the same country. Despite having the option to pick two Pakistanis, Saim chose only one, opener Fakhar Zaman, and paired him with Australian star batter Travis Head.

At number three, he picked England’s hard-hitting wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. The middle order included West Indies’ powerful Nicholas Pooran and South Africa’s dangerous Heinrich Klaasen.

For the sixth spot, he selected England’s Ben Stokes, praising his ability to perform under pressure.

In the all-rounder’s section, Saim chose India’s Hardik Pandya, Afghanistan’s top spinner Rashid Khan, and New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner for their balanced contributions in both batting and bowling during the middle overs.

To complete the bowling lineup, he picked India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Australia’s Mitchell Starc, two of the most feared fast bowlers in modern T20 cricket.

Saim recently returned to action in PSL X after recovering from an ankle injury that he suffered during the Test series against South Africa in December 2024. The injury kept him out of Pakistan’s squads for the tri-nation ODI series, the white-ball series against New Zealand and later the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Now 22 years old, Saim is representing Peshawar Zalmi in the ongoing season of the PSL but is yet to hit top form. He has so far scored 119 runs in eight matches at an average of 14.87 and a strike rate of 117.82.

In the latest episode of Indian insecurity over Pakistani media channels, celebrities and influencers’ penetration and popularity among Indian audiences, the country has now blocked the Instagram accounts of star Pakistani cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.

As per the details, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered a ban on a number of Pakistani YouTube channels and social media accounts.

While several accounts, including those of Pakistani news outlets, celebrities and cricketers, were banned over the past 48 hours, now, the Indian government has gone on to block in the country the official social media accounts belonging to incumbent Pakistan captain Rizwan and batting sensation Babar.

Earlier, India also blocked the YouTube channels of former captains Rashid Latif and Shahid Afridi, as well as speedster Shoaib Akhtar and former cricketer Basit Ali.

India has cited “national security concerns” as the reason for blocking the content amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over the deadly Pahalgam attack in held Kashmir last week.

At least 26 tourists were killed in a gun attack on April 22, following which New Delhi continues to hurl baseless allegations against Pakistan. The allegations, which Islamabad has denied with proof, have led to war rhetoric from across the border besides global calls for peace and restraint.

Peshawar Zalmi’s captain Babar Azam has claimed that no player sacrifices their batting position more than he does.

Talking to a private TV channel in Lahore, the former Pakistan cricket captain shared his thoughts on the challenges his team has faced.

Babar explained that Zalmi started with two wins but has struggled with consistency since then. “Half of the tournament has passed, and we’ve lost matches in phases, sometimes in batting, sometimes in bowling,” he said.

He also highlighted that the team’s fielding has not been up to the mark, adding, “Regardless of conditions, we must stick to the plan and make sure we don’t drop catches or lose wickets at crucial moments.”

On a personal note, Babar acknowledged that people expect him to stay at the crease longer. “I enjoy even short innings, but I’ve not been able to play long ones as expected. I make mistakes and try to correct them, though new mistakes still happen — that’s just how it is. The key is how focused you remain. I am still very focused,” he said.

The captain also commented on his playing style, the constant talk around strike rates, and aggressive play. “I don’t need to prove to anyone what kind of player I am — everyone already knows. I always play according to the situation and the team’s needs. I’m fully aware of my strike rate,” he said.

When asked about his batting position, Babar clarified that he has never insisted on playing in a specific spot. “No one has changed positions as much as I have. I’ve batted at number six and even opened. Whether it’s for the franchise or the national team, I always play where I’m needed. I’ve never said I won’t bat at a certain number for fear of poor performance,” he added.

Babar emphasised the importance of performance over making statements. “I know how to speak, but my elders taught me to respect others. My job is to perform on the field. I work hard and am never satisfied with my performance. Even when I’ve been ranked number one, I always look ahead and think of my country.”

During his T20 career, Babar made it clear that decisions about whether he plays or rests are up to the selectors and coaches. “It’s not up to me whether I play or rest. My job is to perform, be it T20, ODI or Test cricket. I was told I’m being rested from T20s; let’s see what they decide next,” he said.

He also addressed the idea that ODIs might become less important because of T20 cricket. “The 50-over format tests your patience, and we now see scores over 350. ODIs have always been special for me, filled with good memories and performances,” he shared.

As for the PSL, Babar praised the league’s high standards and emphasised that its quality remains strong. “Interest may vary from match to match, but overall the quality remains. Foreign players want to participate. The bowling quality here is excellent — each team has bowlers who clock over 145 kph,” he said.

Babar acknowledged the love and support from his fans, saying, “Their love and support mean I must perform in front of them. It gives me confidence when fans appreciate me wherever I go. When the crowd chants ‘Babar, Babar’, I thank Allah for the respect I’ve received.”

Reflecting on his journey, he added, “I used to ride a bicycle to the stadium, dreaming of playing there one day. Now, the same crowd cheers for me. I remember starting as a ball picker and later playing as a bowler. I’m truly grateful to Allah and feel a greater responsibility not to let my fans down.”

Babar also shared his light-hearted side, admitting that he enjoys the memes made about him. “They’re a sign of affection from fans,” he said, showing his appreciation for the love he receives.

It is worth mentioning that Peshawar has won only two games in the ongoing PSL season and is on the verge of elimination before the playoffs.