Whenever star batsman Babar Azam experiences a lean patch with the bat in Pakistan cricket, a fresh wave of harsh criticism inevitably follows. Amidst this hostile environment, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has come forward strongly in his defense. Launching a scathing attack on former players and social media pundits, Mahmood stated that the country currently possesses only a single superstar, yet people constantly work towards pulling him down.
Recalling the difficult phase experienced by his former teammate, Mahmood shared that the continuous criticism had taken a heavy toll on Babar. According to Mahmood, during his time away from the national squad, Babar was deeply disappointed, and the manner in which former cricketers and online commentators targeted him affected him profoundly.
Open Discussion on Struggles
During an interaction, Mahmood described Babar as a very shy individual who has endured a tremendous amount of pressure. When Babar was sidelined from the team for roughly five months following the England series, Mahmood spent significant time with him. He noted that Babar felt genuinely disillusioned due to the behavior of former players and social media analysts in Pakistan. Emphasizing his point further, he remarked that they have only one superstar and everyone keeps pushing him downward.
Room for Improvement and Maturity
Azhar Mahmood acknowledged that there are certain aspects of Babar's game that require fine-tuning and improvement. However, he strongly believes that receiving adequate respect and backing can elevate Babar's performance to even greater heights. He noted that while every player has areas to work on, he feels Babar has now achieved a high level of maturity.
Upcoming Test Series and Fitness Concerns
Babar was dropped from Pakistan's T20I squad ahead of the Asia Cup last year. However, he made a comeback to the side for the 2026 T20 World Cup. In the 20-team tournament, he failed to meet expectations, leading to another omission from the squad. Babar has now shifted his focus firmly to Test cricket. He has been selected in Pakistan's squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against England and is scheduled to lead the red-ball side. Nevertheless, due to an injury, his participation in the opening Test against England remains in serious doubt.
