Fact Check: Has Babar Azam Really Retired from Test Cricket?

Social media was abuzz with rumors of Babar Azam’s alleged retirement from Test cricket following Pakistan’s 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh. The speculation arose from viral posts purportedly from Babar, announcing his departure from the Test format. However, these claims have been debunked as false.

The prolific batsman has been under immense scrutiny for his performance in the series, as he was the subject of multiple misleading posts circulating online. One such post claimed that Babar, Pakistan’s white-ball captain, had retired from Test cricket, while another criticized his technique and statistics following his removal from the Test captaincy.

Upon investigation, it was confirmed that these posts originated from parody accounts on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Babar’s official accounts on X and Instagram did not feature any announcements regarding his retirement.

The first fake retirement post appeared on an X account named “Jay Shah (parody),” falsely claiming Babar Azam’s retirement. Another misleading post from an account titled “Babar Azam – Parody” further perpetuated the false narrative, making it clear that the statements were not from Babar himself.

Babar’s recent struggles in Test cricket have been evident, as he managed only 64 runs across four innings in the series against Bangladesh, averaging 16. His performance included a duck in the first innings of the opening Test and scores of 22, 31, and 11 in subsequent innings. Throughout 2023, Babar has accumulated just 317 runs in eight matches, with a highest score of 41, and his last Test century was against New Zealand in Karachi in December 2022.

Despite the challenges, Babar Azam remains a key figure in Pakistan cricket, and the rumors of his retirement from Test cricket have been confirmed as fake.