Babar Azam’s Father Defends His Son From Mounting Criticism

Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam is currently navigating the most challenging period of his career, with his recent form with the bat drawing significant criticism from fans and pundits alike.

Following the Champions Trophy disappointment, Babar Azam was notably dropped from the squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand—a decision that his father does not agree with.

In the face of this mounting criticism, Babar Azam’s father, Azam Siddique, has come out in staunch defense of his son. Using social media as his platform, Siddique took to Instagram to express his confidence in Babar’s potential for a comeback.

“The boss is always right. Despite being part of the ICC’s T20 Team of the Year, he was dropped. It’s fine; he will perform in the National T20 and PSL. Insha Allah, he will make a comeback,” Siddique wrote in his post, offering his full support to his son amid the scrutiny.

While Babar was indeed part of the ICC’s T20I Team of the Year, many still feel his style of play is not suited for modern cricket.

Azam Siddique also aimed at Babar’s critics, warning them to choose their words wisely.

“They are very big former players, but they should choose their words wisely. If someone responds, they may not be able to tolerate it. You are the past, and that door will never open,” he added, issuing a firm reminder that the past should not dictate the present.

Among those to openly criticize Babar Azam were two of Pakistan’s cricketing legends, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Hafeez. Akhtar went as far as labeling Babar a “fraud,” while Hafeez questioned his ability to perform in the challenging conditions of SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. The harsh words from these two former cricketing icons put further pressure on the already struggling batsman, who has been unable to replicate his past successes in recent months.

Despite the growing negativity, Babar’s father’s words signal that the batter is far from defeated. With the ODI series in New Zealand and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on the horizon, Babar will have ample opportunities to showcase his skills and prove his critics wrong.