Shaheen Afridi took to Instagram to wish Babar Azam a happy birthday, both of whom were sidelined from the second Test match against England. While Babar’s exclusion is officially attributed to his recent lackluster form, one might wonder if his birthday celebrations played a part in his absence from the starting XI.
Babar Azam, once a prolific force in Pakistan’s batting lineup, is marking his 30th birthday under less-than-ideal circumstances. Instead of leading his team on the field, he is left to “celebrate” on the sidelines, a stark reminder of his recent struggles.
Despite the sour note, Babar’s teammates, who are also missing from the national team due to their own performance issues, have rallied to wish him well. Shaheen Afridi, in a show of camaraderie, posted a birthday message on Instagram, using Babar’s nickname. “Happy Birthday Bobby! Wishing you a great year ahead,” he wrote, perhaps hinting at better days to come.
Shadab Khan, another absentee from the squad, shared a picture on Instagram featuring himself and Babar Azam holding their shirts, underscoring their friendship. “Happy birthday Babar. May u have a great year on & off the field. Everyone knows ur batting class,” Shadab posted.
Haris Rauf also joined in, expressing his affection for Babar Azam with a light-hearted message. “Tusi great hoooo. Happy Birthday brother,” he posted.
Conspicuously absent from the birthday wishes is Fakhar Zaman, who recently made headlines for criticizing the PCB’s decision to drop Babar. Fakhar’s silence is notable, especially after he received a show-cause notice from the PCB for his public comments defending Babar’s place in the squad.