Umar Akmal has come to the defense of former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, responding firmly to criticism regarding Babar’s place in the national squad following a dip in form during the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL X).
Appearing as a guest on Ahmed Ali Butt’s podcast during coverage of the PSL match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi, Akmal was asked which player he believed should not be in the Pakistan squad. Before he could answer, another guest suggested Babar Azam’s name, prompting a strong reaction from Akmal.
Visibly frustrated, Akmal, who is Babar’s cousin, highlighted Babar’s achievements and status in world cricket. “Babar was the captain of Pakistan for five years, how can you say this?” Akmal questioned, emphasizing that a temporary loss of form should not overshadow Babar’s contributions to the team.
Akmal further argued that it was unfair to single out Babar during a difficult spell. “If Babar is going through a difficult spell, should we speak about him this way?” he asked, urging for patience and respect for the star batter.
Babar Azam, currently captaining Peshawar Zalmi, has faced scrutiny after scoring just one run across two innings, with Zalmi losing both their opening matches in PSL X. The criticism comes on the heels of Babar’s omission from Pakistan’s T20 squad for the recent tour of New Zealand.
Akmal, who last played for Pakistan in 2019, concluded his remarks by stating, “You cannot talk like this,” defending Babar’s place in the team and calling for support rather than criticism during challenging times.
As the PSL season progresses, all eyes will be on Babar Azam to see if he can regain his form and silence his critics.
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