The career of Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam continues to be a subject of discussion among retired cricketers who have transitioned into punditry — and Azam Khan appears to have shed light on why that is.
Whether these critics praise or ridicule Babar Azam, the wicketkeeper-batter has suggested that much of the debate stems from jealousy among ex-players who are “unable to digest” the success of Pakistan’s premier batter.
Speaking in a recent interview on CrickWick’s Ultra Edge Podcast, Azam Khan expressed his views candidly, calling out Babar’s critics for undervaluing his contributions.
“No, they don’t [value Babar Azam]. He is the biggest batting talent we have produced in the last ten years. Pakistan cricket was famous because of fast bowling, but this guy made it famous because of batting,” Azam Khan said.
He added that Babar achieved all of this without much support.
“When Virat Kohli started, he had all these legends around him — VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, and Dhoni. Who was there for Babar Azam? No one,” he added.
Azam Khan went on to suggest that the level of fame Babar has achieved is fueling his critics.
“In the last ten years, it was Shahid Afridi who had the stardom that compelled people to watch him play. Now it’s Babar. When he comes in to bat, people cheer for him — and I think some ex-players cannot digest that. They could have been this big had social media existed back then too,” Azam Khan said.
While he did not name individuals, Babar Azam has faced repeated criticism from several former cricketers, including Mohammad Amir, Ahmed Shahzad, Imad Wasim, and Shoaib Akhtar among countless others in the past.
Babar Azam, who has been the backbone of Pakistan’s batting lineup for nearly a decade, continues to face regular scrutiny despite being one of the world’s most renowned cricketers. The star batter recently became the highest run-scorer in T20Is, yet criticism from certain former players persists — often targeting his style, strike rate, or past captaincy decisions.
Despite the noise, Babar remains one of the most respected figures in global cricket, as evidenced by the red carpet being rolled out for him by the Sydney Sixers ahead of the upcoming Big Bash League.
As Pakistan prepares for a crucial stretch of international fixtures, Babar once again finds himself at the center of attention — not for his form, but for the divided opinions his success continues to stir. And Azam Khan may have just lifted the lid on why the criticism never seems to fade.