Babar Azam criticized for slow batting: Pakistan defeated Netherlands in the opening match of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The game reached a stalemate as Salman Ali Agha’s side went from 97/2 to 114/7. Faheem Ashraf came to the rescue for the team and ended the match with 29 off 12 balls.

However, Pakistan still have a lot of work to do in terms of batting. The wicket of Sahibzada Farhan brought about the collapse for Pakistan. Babar Azam, who batted with the former, also gave away his wicket as the men in green were in complete control chasing 148 balls. Babar scored 15 runs off 18 balls, losing to Roelof van der Merwe.

Babar Azam’s slow approach questioned

Former Pakistan coach Basit Ali criticized Babar’s slow approach and not taking responsibility for finishing the game on YouTube show The Game Plan, where he was also joined by Kamran Akmal.

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Basit Ali said on the channel: “I have a feeling that Babar will not play in Pakistan’s next game. I saw anger on the face of head coach Mike Hesson… I don’t think he will play Babar at No. 4 again in the next game.”

Babar Azam is not a superstar in T20Is

Basit Ali is furious with Babar for being called Pakistan’s superstar in T20Is. He questioned: “If you call Babar Azam a superstar in ODIs or Tests, I might still agree. But in T20Is? Kahaan se superstar hai? (How did he become a superstar?) A batsman who falls out of his regular batting position and comes out to bat at No. 4 can’t even tell the management that he is not the No. 4 batsman! Doesn’t Babar know this?”

He further added, “Even club cricketers will tell you that in the T20s, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf… they were all better players than Babar! Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub were also better T20 players than Babar.”

“Even Salman Ali Agha has proven that he is better than Babar at number three. People haven’t woken up after Steve Smith teamed up with Babar Azam in the Big Bash League! He just refused a single to prevent Babar from striking. His game is not suitable (for T20).”

Kamran Akmal thinks Babar should be dumped

Replying to Basit Ali, Kamran Akmal said: “Zabardasti is suitable for kar rahe hain at No. 4. (The management forced him to be at No. 4). Why do we continue to play games like this against a team like Netherlands? Because you don’t have a system in place. You are just helping the players!”

To this, Basit Ali asked: “Has Babar Azam ever won a match for us by batting at 10 runs per over?” When Kamran asked whose fault it was, Basit Ali replied: “Babar ka kasoor hai! (Babar is at fault).”

Babar has come under scrutiny for his sluggish attack in the most dynamic format of the game, which requires scoring runs quickly and playing more impactful innings rather than long innings. He was even criticized in the Big Bash League for playing too slowly.

Also read: Paul van Meekeren drops bomb on Pakistan after T20 World Cup thriller: ‘They didn’t win the game’