Table of Contents
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) re-appointed Babar Azam as the Test captain after Shan Masood failed to lead the side well. Pakistan experienced a difficult phase, winning 4 and losing 12 of their 16 total matches. Former Pakistan pacer Azhar Mahmood shared some shocking facts about how Babar is treated by the PCB and all the former players and pundits.
After Babar was re-appointed as the captain for the traditional format, he won the second Test against West Indies, winning their first Test in three years away from home, and it also saved the series as it ended in a 1-1 draw. Babar Azam led the side well in the series, and his next assignment is in England.
Azhar Mahmood reveals Babar Azam's nature
Ahead of the three-match Test series which is scheduled to begin from August 19, Azhar Mahmood, while speaking on Sky Sports, revealed a shocking fact about how Babar is treated in Pakistan and also about his nature. The former pacer revealed that the current Test captain is shy and that he spent time with the Pakistan skipper,
"But he's very shy. He's been through a lot. I spent a lot of time with him, like five months with him when he was out of the team after the England series because I got nothing to do."
Azhar Mahmood discusses the treatment of Babar Azam in Pakistan pic.twitter.com/RAK7r7c7ev
— Usman (@jamilmusman_) August 17, 2026
"Two Test matches, you know, like after three months' time. So we played golf together. We have some... he was really down because the way he's been treated in Pakistan by the ex-players or social media pundits, the way they treated him."
Babar Azam not respected in Pakistan
Azhar Mahmood stated that as Babar Azam is the only superstar cricketer in their country now, everyone tries to demotivate him and pull him down. Despite backing the captain, Mahmood believes that the 31-year-old batter has to improve a few things. As a captain, the star batter has to be more confident and lead from the front.
The former pacer said, "Because we have only one guy who is a superstar and we are pulling him down all the time. Yes, he has to improve. He has certain things to improve. Everyone does that. And I think now he's matured."
"When he's captain, he thinks, you know, like he got more power. He got more confidence. He has to lead from the front. So when he's captain, you know, like you can see those type of things coming up from him."
Mahmood said, "If he's not captain, if not, nobody gives him respect, which he deserves. And sometimes he goes into show."
Babar Azam's captaincy record
Babar has helped Pakistan come back on track, and in the second Test match against West Indies, he became only the third Pakistan captain to lead the side in 150 matches across formats.
He has led the Pakistan side in 85 T20Is, the most by any Pakistani cricketer. Also, he has led the side in 43 ODI matches and 22 matches in the traditional format of the game. Babar joined the list, with only Mishabh-ul-Haq and Imran Khan ahead of him.
