Babar Azam publicly torn apart as ex-Pakistan star lists players above him, drags Steve Smith row

Babar Azam criticised for playing slowly: Pakistan edged past the Netherlands in the opening game of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The match was stuck for Salman Ali Agha’s side after they collapsed from 97/2 to 114/7. Faheem Ashraf came to the rescue for the side, finishing off the game when 29 were needed off 12 balls.

However, Pakistan have lot to work on the batting department. The wicket of Sahibzada Farhan started the collapse for Pakistan. Babar Azam, who was batting with the former, also gave away his wicket when the Men in Green were in complete control chasing 148. Babar fell to Roelof van der Merwe for 15 runs off 18 balls.

Babar Azam's slow approach questioned

Speaking about Babar’s slow approach and not taking responsibility to finish the match, former Pakistan coach Basit Ali slammed him on the YouTube show The Game Plan, where he was joined by Kamran Akmal.

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

Babar Azam is not a superstar in T20I

Basit Ali was furious that Babar was being called the superstar of Pakistan 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 is he a superstar?) A batter who drops down from his regular batting position and comes out to bat at no 4, and cannot even tell the management that he’s not a no 4 batter! Doesn’t Babar know this?”

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

“Even Salman Ali Agha has shown that he’s a better player at No 3 than Babar. After what Steve Smith did with Babar Azam in the Big Bash League, people haven’t wisened up! He denied a single just to prevent Babar from getting on strike. His game is not suited (to T20s).”

Kamran Akmal feels Babar should be dropped

Kamran Akmal, in reply to Basit Ali, said, “Zabardasti fit kar rahe hain at no 4. (The management is forcibly fitting him at No 4). Why do we keep playing games like these against teams like the Netherlands? Because you’re not making a system. You’re obliging players!”

To this, Basit Ali asked: “Has Babar Azam ever won us a game by batting when the required rate was 10 runs per over?” When Kamran asked whose fault that was, Basit Ali responded: “Babar ka kasoor hai! (Babar is at fault).”

Babar has come under the radar for his slow approach in the most dynamic format of the game, as it needs to score runs quickly and play more impactful innings rather than long innings. He was even criticised 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”