How is Babar Azam the solution to Pakistan’s middle order spin issue in T20?

[Rana]

This was an agenda being run at extreme levels for the past couple of months, from the Bangladesh series, through the tri series and then all throughout the Asia cup.

Constant, non stop crying and campaigning by certain journalists and ex cricketers who said Babar is the need of the team because he plays spin well apparently and is a technically sound batter against spin.

What did we see today though? South Africa are missing their no.1 spinner and are having to do with lower grade spinners on a deck with some spin. Babar was extremely lucky to have survived the first over against left arm spin, and looked all at sea with his choice of shots against spin….

Eventually his luck ran out when he missed a standard off spinning delivery into the pads! It was clear to see that Babar hasn’t improved at all against spin on decks that will offer some grip and turn!

How is this man potentially the solution to Pakistan’s middle order woes going into a big T20 tournament where Pakistan are expected to have to play in challenging spin conditions? What does he offer that the current side which reached the Finals of the Asia cup doesn’t??

If he is clearly struggling against standard off spin, how is this man expected to negotiate and take down spin that turns away from his bat and also the mystery spinners brought in to make breakthroughs?

 

[Rana]

@Ahmed216 @gazza619 @Raja Ishtiaq @Caved12 @heddie19 @hks222 @BouncerGuy

You people especially had a lot to say for the past 2-3 months and how Pakistan is useless without Babar…

So what exactly do you have to say now?

 

[cricketfan24]

Babar azam is finished he had his glory when Ramiz raja was the chairman creating pitches to boost Babar's average

 

[Justcrazy]

Babar has issues against spin bowling. He can change that , but needs to work hard and play first class . He is arrogant and does not want to accept the issue. Unless you accept the issue , you will not fix that.

 

[tiger_khan]

I criticize Babar a lot but one inning is not a good measure of any batsman especially if he is making a comeback. There are three innings left. I wish him well

as far as his T20 situation is concerned, I think it was an absolute injustice when he and Rizwan started to open for Pakistan while both Fakhar Zaman and Sharjeel khan were available.

there has been bu only an adverse effect on the T20 cricket of pakiistan, from the decision of Babar and Rizwan opening in T20s. they used to face most of the deliveries in a T20 innings with a slow strike rate and our middle order was not able to get in action until very late. consequently, we still haven't developed our middle order in a T20 team. they opened for multiple years

fast or spin bowling, it doesn't matter. the pak National T20 cricket team can't afford both of them in the same team simultaneously, if it wants to be among the best teams of the shortest version internationally

even if Babar scores 3 centuries in the remaining test innings, my opinion will remain unchanged

 

[gazza619]

@Ahmed216 @gazza619 @Raja Ishtiaq @Caved12 @heddie19 @hks222 @BouncerGuy

You people especially had a lot to say for the past 2-3 months and how Pakistan is useless without Babar…

So what exactly do you have to say now?

i guess you wont be bumping the Riz is useless thread today ?

 

[gazza619]

@Ahmed216 @gazza619 @Raja Ishtiaq @Caved12 @heddie19 @hks222 @BouncerGuy

You people especially had a lot to say for the past 2-3 months and how Pakistan is useless without Babar…

So what exactly do you have to say now?

Babar was looking good today. He got unlucky with that lbw.

Pakistan must back Babar.

 

[Rana]

i guess you wont be bumping the Riz is useless thread today ?

That’s not the point of this thread is it?

So Rizwan scores 50 at 6 on a spinning deck in Test cricket….

What number do you suggest he bats for Pakistan in T20s?

 

[shaz619]

Simply not good enough, not strong for Tests at all, and generally he has never been an impactful batter. His numbers and ego got inflated on flat pitches, under this set-up he should not be playing ahead of Kamran Gulam.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Does Pakistan have a middle order spin issue in T20 or a middle order issue in general?

I think selectors are concerned with the way Pakistan collapsed completely so want a player in who can bat through.

Babar has been outdone by spin in the past, but could be add value to the side?

Farhan
Saim
Babar
Fakhar


Could work in theory as top 4 but if he is being brought in specially to negate spin then it's not a good choice

 

[Rana]

Does Pakistan have a middle order spin issue in T20 or a middle order issue in general?

I think selectors are concerned with the way Pakistan collapsed completely so want a player in who can bat through.

Babar has been outdone by spin in the past, but could be add value to the side?

Farhan
Saim
Babar
Fakhar


Could work in theory as top 4 but if he is being brought in specially to negate spin then it's not a good choice

The way a lot of people have been crying for the last 2-3 months or so, it seems as if Pakistan would have reached the final of the Asia cup without any hiccups with Babar playing….and also defeated India in the final by posting 200 which they were all set to get apparently!

 

[DeadlyVenom]

The way a lot of people have been crying for the last 2-3 months or so, it seems as if Pakistan would have reached the final of the Asia cup without any hiccups with Babar playing….and also defeated India in the final by posting 200 which they were all set to get apparently!

Many of the players didn't cover themselves in glory and to be honest Hessons selection of so many rellu katta does need to be scrutinised, but I'm not so sure Babar is the silver bullet answer to these problems.

Too soon to press the panic button imo

 

[Rana]

Many of the players didn't cover themselves in glory and to be honest Hessons selection of so many rellu katta does need to be scrutinised, but I'm not so sure Babar is the silver bullet answer to these problems.

Too soon to press the panic button imo

You don’t have to put yourself in so much of a conundrum

You should be sure that Babar wasn’t ever the solution and especially considering the serious amount of pressure that his PR was applying on the PCB/Hesson/Agha to include him.

The same truth about Rizwan will also be apparent very soon too.

 

[mominsaigol]

This was an agenda being run at extreme levels for the past couple of months, from the Bangladesh series, through the tri series and then all throughout the Asia cup.

Constant, non stop crying and campaigning by certain journalists and ex cricketers who said Babar is the need of the team because he plays spin well apparently and is a technically sound batter against spin.

What did we see today though? South Africa are missing their no.1 spinner and are having to do with lower grade spinners on a deck with some spin. Babar was extremely lucky to have survived the first over against left arm spin, and looked all at sea with his choice of shots against spin….

Eventually his luck ran out when he missed a standard off spinning delivery into the pads! It was clear to see that Babar hasn’t improved at all against spin on decks that will offer some grip and turn!

How is this man potentially the solution to Pakistan’s middle order woes going into a big T20 tournament where Pakistan are expected to have to play in challenging spin conditions? What does he offer that the current side which reached the Finals of the Asia cup doesn’t??

If he is clearly struggling against standard off spin, how is this man expected to negotiate and take down spin that turns away from his bat and also the mystery spinners brought in to make breakthroughs?

T20 and Test aren't the same and the way you bowl spin in both formats is different.

However the rest i agree with. Babar can't play finger spin for the life of him. He isn't very good vs wrist either.

 

[mominsaigol]

They really need to quit their ego and allow Kamran Ghulam to play. He's perfect for such conditons.

 

[gazza619]

That’s not the point of this thread is it?

So Rizwan scores 50 at 6 on a spinning deck in Test cricket….

What number do you suggest he bats for Pakistan in T20s?

Riz will be an asset at any number. He will adjust for the team’s cause.

 

[shaz619]

Riz will be an asset at any number. He will adjust for the team’s cause.

He literally would not bat anywhere besides the top order & to be frank, against genuine spin threat; I’m afraid he isn’t who he is hyped as, I expected so much more from him in the WC in India and he utterly embarrassed us in the CT at home, though I knew what he’d do there.

 

[cricfan432]

Kamran ghulam should replace him in home tests, and babar should only play in sena.

 

[shaz619]

The way a lot of people have been crying for the last 2-3 months or so, it seems as if Pakistan would have reached the final of the Asia cup without any hiccups with Babar playing….and also defeated India in the final by posting 200 which they were all set to get apparently!

People have fish memory, Babar & Rizwan’s best exploits were against C-string teams in years we didn’t have T20 WC.

Pakistan are not there yet but doing ok against full strength sides, we’re rebuilding after being set back decades, why not give this crop the same long rope as Ricky Ponting & Adam Gilchrist.

There are signs of growth & potential which we didn’t have before, purely due to the selfishness of the so called senior players.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Babar is a very mediocre player.

I have been calling him out for years now even when people were exulting over him.

He needs a flat track with C type bowlers to score.

It helps if the opposition is Uganda, USA and Hong Kong.

 

[Rana]

It helps if the opposition is Uganda, USA and Hong Kong

I doubt he will survive their spinners in the UAE either.

We have to be honest with his guy! He’s not a T20 player and it’s fast becoming evident that he might be a liability in Test too!

 

[Rana]

Riz will be an asset at any number. He will adjust for the team’s cause.

Be specific! What number are you advocating Rizwan to bat in T20s for Pakistan?

 

[mominsaigol]

I doubt he will survive their spinners in the UAE either.

We have to be honest with his guy! He’s not a T20 player and it’s fast becoming evident that he might be a liability in Test too!

So which format then? He's not a test player, not an odi player, not a t20 player, not a 100 player, not a PSL player?

Is the new agenda that He's going to be BBL star because Steve Smith will do all the work for him

 

[gazza619]

Be specific! What number are you advocating Rizwan to bat in T20s for Pakistan?

Well Riz has decided not to open again for Pakistan. There are ongoing discussions about him in the team think tank adjusting him to the middle order, specifically between numbers 4-6.

Let's see how this plays out, but I am confident that he will surely not be a disaster like M Haris was with both bat and gloves.

 

[gazza619]

it’s fast becoming evident that he might be a liability in Test too!

you were clearly asleep when Riz saved Pakistan today.

 

[Rana]

you were clearly asleep when Riz saved Pakistan today.

You are clearly asleep all the time. Who am I talking about?

 

[gazza619]

He literally would not bat anywhere besides the top order & to be frank, against genuine spin threat; I’m afraid he isn’t who he is hyped as, I expected so much more from him in the WC in India and he utterly embarrassed us in the CT at home, though I knew what he’d do there.

I agree that Riz has let himself and his fans down in some key moments. The trouble is that we expect so much from him, sometimes forgetting he is one player in a team of eleven. It's not entirely fair to place the blame solely on Riz, especially when he has been following the team plan. If the team plan is flawed, then the responsibility also lies with the coach.

Now that his captaincy days in T20 are over, it's in his best interest to continue playing according to the team's strategy. He needs a clearly defined role, and we can't expect every batter to be a slogger. We also need to consider the disastrous episodes of M Haris in the team, which has impacted team results.

It's essential to recognise that cricket is a team sport, and every player has a part to play.

 

[Caved12]

I still have full faith in Babar and honestly believe him and Rizwan are our best all format players. Everyone needs to back Babar, he’s earned that respect after performing for so many years and averaging above 40 in all formats. Right now, his issues look more mental than technical.

The crowd needs to do better too. When Shan was batting, some people were actually hoping he’d get out just to see Babar, that’s just wrong. Fans should give Babar a good reception when he walks in but not go crazy either, because too much pressure won’t help him. He’s clearly low on confidence and going through a tough phase.

Against spin, yeah, he’s struggling badly. Some dismissals were to good balls, but most of them were just soft wickets, nothing special from the bowlers, just Babar being nervous and unsure. PCB has already given him assignments to work on this, so hopefully he’ll get back on track soon.

Overall though, it was a really good day for Pakistan. Imam looked solid, Rizzu was brilliant as always, easily the best all round player in this format and Shan played nicely too. Great to see Agha get a fifty as well, especially after struggling in the Asia Cup T20s.

It’s just tough to see our best batter for years go through this kind of form and watch people turn against him so quickly. Pakistan cricket will only do well if Babar finds his rhythm again.

As for the game, SA were poor, dropped catches, average bowling and this isn’t even a 400 pitch. Can’t wait to see Sajid and Noman bowl on this surface.

 

[Rana]

It's not entirely fair to place the blame solely on Riz, especially when he has been following the team plan

Yeah that’s b.s

The ‘team plan’ when Rizwan is in the T20 side is to make Rizwan work. Regular openers are shifted into middle order and other spots so that Rizwan can accumulate as an opener.

Rizwan was the one who had a cry off and demanded the no.4 spot in ODIs

Rizwan threw a hissy fit when Saim was being inducted into the side and one of him or Babar had to shift to make him work in his batting position.

Don’t act like Rizwan is suddenly a team man! We all know the truth here

 

[Rana]

Fans should give Babar a good reception when he walks in but not go crazy either, because too much pressure won’t help him

What???

So now it’s the fan’s fault if Babar can’t bat???

 

[Caved12]

What???

So now it’s the fan’s fault if Babar can’t bat???

Your problem is that you don’t really understand much, yet you act like you’ve figured everything out. You’re less interested in having a proper discussion and more focused on picking on small things just for the sake of arguing.

Fans also need to show more responsibility. When Shan got dropped, a section of the crowd seemed upset, probably because they wanted to see Babar instead. Even when Shan scored a solid fifty and got out, instead of applauding his effort, the crowd went crazy just because Babar was coming in. That’s not how responsible fans behave, support should be for Pakistan, not based on personal favourites.

This kind of behaviour can easily throw a player off. Babar is already going through a slump, struggling to find rhythm at this stage of his career. The last thing he needs is more pressure from a crowd that expects miracles every time, especially when he’s having trouble scoring freely against all kinds of bowling, not just spin.

I just wanted to point this out because if even a few people understand and correct their behaviour, it would be a positive step forward. We can’t control what the PCB does, but at least we can control how we support the team in the stadium. That’s something that actually makes a difference.

 

[Rana]

Fans also need to show more responsibility. When Shan got dropped, a section of the crowd seemed upset, probably because they wanted to see Babar instead. Even when Shan scored a solid fifty and got out, instead of applauding his effort, the crowd went crazy just because Babar was coming in. That’s not how responsible fans behave, support should be for Pakistan, not based on personal favourites.

Fans/crowds at a stadium can behave how they want as long as they don’t cause security issues, and are not harassing players and spectators! This is their right!

The players are paid to play cricket. They have to do their job regardless!

What kind of stupid argument is this? So the fans have to behave in a certain way when an important player comes to the crease?? What is this? Disney Land??

 

[Dr_Bassim]

Of all the excuses that I have heard in my life for Babar's failures this one the most ridiculous concoction ever.

Babar can't bat anymore because of the ways fans are behaving.

This is not a drama or practice tryouts for the high school baseball game.

This is professional cricket and if you can't bear the heat of fans, time to choose a different career.

 

[Hitman]

His fans are boasting on X how their hero has become the first player with 3000 runs in World Test Championship.

 

[Hitman]

2023 - 22.66 (ave); 100's - 0; 50's 0

2024 - 20.20 (ave); 100's - 0; 50's - 1

2025 - 29.57 (ave); 100's - 0; 50's - 2


Almost a Kohli type decline. Except that Kohli's bad patch continued till his retirement in Tests.​

 

[saimayubera]

2023 - 22.66 (ave); 100's - 0; 50's 0

2024 - 20.20 (ave); 100's - 0; 50's - 1

2025 - 29.57 (ave); 100's - 0; 50's - 2


Almost a Kohli type decline. Except that Kohli's bad patch continued till his retirement in Tests.​

Kohli declined later in life though after a greater peak.

Kohli's decline started from when he was 32-33. He was great in 2019.

Babar has declined from 28 and his peak was never as high as Kohli's.

Kohli at his peak was averaging 55 with 27 centuries.

Babar's peak was 49 with 9 centuries.

Gill has more centuries and a better average than Babar.

 

[Caved12]

My post was pretty clear, it was about Babar’s ongoing slump, something that’s been discussed here endlessly for months. No one blamed the fans for his struggles in the past or yesterday. The point was simple: when a player is going through a tough phase, unrealistic expectations and behaviour like cheering for Shan’s wicket just to see Babar bat don’t exactly help anyone.

As a Pakistan cricket fan who actually wants Babar to come out of this slump, I said what any sensible fan would, support your whole team, not just one individual. Babar’s record speaks for itself; he worked hard to get where he is and now needs support, not added pressure. Every top player goes through rough patches, and that’s when they need encouragement from their supporters, not unnecessary drama or blind hero worship.

Can I control what fans do or how they behave in the stadium? Obviously not. But can I point out that this kind of reaction didn’t help and probably added more pressure on a player who’s already struggling? Yes, for sure. Even commentators mentioned how a section of the crowd looked disappointed when Shan’s catch was dropped, they discussed it on air multiple times. I simply observed the same thing and mentioned it in my post. That’s all there was to it.

Now, if you somehow twisted that into “blaming fans for Babar’s failure,” that’s completely on you. Either you didn’t read what I actually wrote, or you just lack the basic comprehension skills to follow a simple point. It’s not that hard, the discussion was about perspective and responsibility, not pointing fingers at the crowd for a player’s form.

So maybe try reading posts properly before jumping to conclusions. Picking random lines and inventing your own meaning isn’t “debate,” it’s just nonsense. Sorry to say, but it’s laughable how some people here will twist anything just to argue, it really shows how shallow and hate driven their takes are. If that’s your idea of “discussion,” then no wonder threads go nowhere.

 

[mominsaigol]

What???

So now it’s the fan’s fault if Babar can’t bat???

Bro, if my boss and colleagues at work praise me, they need to be careful.

If they praise me too much I'll flop at my job because it'll put too much pressure on me

 

[Caved12]

Never do this, don’t go to the stadium to support your team and then start wishing for one of your own players to get out just so you can see your favourite player bat. That’s not what true support looks like. And never, ever forget to appreciate your captain or any player who has played a decent innings before walking back. Acknowledge their effort first, give them the respect they deserve, and then cheer for your favourite player when he comes in to bat.

Be responsible as a fan. Enjoy the game, but don’t lose perspective. There’s no need to chant “Babar, Babar” after every single delivery he faces, stay calm, appreciate his good shots, cheer for him when he plays well, when he scores a fifty, and most importantly, support every single player wearing that green jersey. That’s what being a real fan is all about.

 

[Caved12]

Because all this does is create divisions, sends the wrong message to others, and makes the player feel like he’s bigger than the team itself, especially at a time when he’s clearly not that big player and is struggling to score runs across all formats.

 

[Caved12]

Because all of this can have a negative effect on the player. He’s not blind or deaf, he can see and hear that the crowd wants him to bat, even if it means another player from his own team has to get out. Fans are expecting too much from him at a time when he simply needs to focus on scoring some runs and getting out of this slump. Be responsible and sensible. You might think you’re supporting Babar, especially after he was dropped from the T20 squad, and now you want to show extra support to prove a point to those who dropped him. But that’s the wrong approach. Stop overdoing it. He’s struggling right now and doesn’t need this kind of hero worship. This is never the right way to support a player.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Your problem is that you don’t really understand much, yet you act like you’ve figured everything out. You’re less interested in having a proper discussion and more focused on picking on small things just for the sake of arguing.

Fans also need to show more responsibility. When Shan got dropped, a section of the crowd seemed upset, probably because they wanted to see Babar instead. Even when Shan scored a solid fifty and got out, instead of applauding his effort, the crowd went crazy just because Babar was coming in. That’s not how responsible fans behave, support should be for Pakistan, not based on personal favourites.

This kind of behaviour can easily throw a player off. Babar is already going through a slump, struggling to find rhythm at this stage of his career. The last thing he needs is more pressure from a crowd that expects miracles every time, especially when he’s having trouble scoring freely against all kinds of bowling, not just spin.

I just wanted to point this out because if even a few people understand and correct their behaviour, it would be a positive step forward. We can’t control what the PCB does, but at least we can control how we support the team in the stadium. That’s something that actually makes a difference.

If an experienced player is unable to block out the noise from a crowd of less than 100 people then he shouldn't be playing international cricket. This isn't snooker brother where fans are required to be quiet so a player can concentrate. Players must take some responsibility for their own output.

He has not played a First class match for 10 months.

Compare it to Shan, Rizwan, and Agha who have played FC very recently.

You seem to want the fans to correct their behaviour, but the real reason for Babar's slump is that he hasn't corrected his and doesn't seem to want to correct it either.

 

[rpant_gabba]

Babar hasn't reached his peak yet.

 

[Rana]

If an experienced player is unable to block out the noise from a crowd of less than 100 people then he shouldn't be playing international cricket. This isn't snooker brother where fans are required to be quiet so a player can concentrate. Players must take some responsibility for their own output.

Do you understand the ridiculousness of his argument? He isn’t talking about ‘blocking out outside noise’, the type which Khushdil and Imam ul Haq type players have to deal with where the fans just hate on them no matter what….

What He’s saying is that the fans shouldn’t make Babar feel very very welcome at the crease

 

[Rana]

Some Indians crawling into this thread and talking as if they themselves are not equally guilty of chatting nonsense like “Babar is easily better than those selected for the Asia cup

 

[Caved12]

If an experienced player is unable to block out the noise from a crowd of less than 100 people then he shouldn't be playing international cricket. This isn't snooker brother where fans are required to be quiet so a player can concentrate. Players must take some responsibility for their own output.

He has not played a First class match for 10 months.

Compare it to Shan, Rizwan, and Agha who have played FC very recently.

You seem to want the fans to correct their behaviour, but the real reason for Babar's slump is that he hasn't corrected his and doesn't seem to want to correct it either.

Your post comes across as very childish and completely misses the point, especially when I had already explained everything in detail. Of course Babar needs to take responsibility for his form and work on his game, that’s obvious and separate. What I said about the fans’ behavior is also valid and doesn’t cancel that out. There’s absolutely nothing wrong in what I said in my earlier posts. Honestly, I expected better from you.

And yes, players should ideally be able to block out the noise but that’s not some magical switch that works perfectly in every situation, especially when a batter is already struggling for confidence. Everyone has been in agreement for months now that Babar is badly out of form and needs to rediscover his touch.

My comment about the crowd’s behavior was just a sincere hope as a Pakistan cricket fan, that we show a bit more responsibility and maturity in how we support the team during sensitive moments. It was a small part of what I said, and it was never meant to excuse his failures. Yet somehow a few people have fixated on that one thing and twisted it into something it’s not. Just nonsense after nonsense.

 

[Caved12]

I think some of you aren’t watching the game closely enough and are missing a lot. When Shan got out, there was barely any applause for him, which is unusual. Normally, when a batter walks off after a decent innings, the crowd gives a proper acknowledgment. But this time, before Babar even walked in, the crowd went absolutely crazy. It was such a strange sequence. The same crowd looked disappointed when Shan’s catch was dropped, when in reality, they should’ve been relieved that the set batter was still in. Then, when he did get out, they erupted as if it was a wicket worth celebrating. Even the commentators pointed out how odd that was. Danyal Rasool from Cricinfo also mentioned it in his piece. Honestly, some of you are just weird.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Your post comes across as very childish and completely misses the point, especially when I had already explained everything in detail. Of course Babar needs to take responsibility for his form and work on his game, that’s obvious and separate. What I said about the fans’ behavior is also valid and doesn’t cancel that out. There’s absolutely nothing wrong in what I said in my earlier posts. Honestly, I expected better from you.

And yes, players should ideally be able to block out the noise but that’s not some magical switch that works perfectly in every situation, especially when a batter is already struggling for confidence. Everyone has been in agreement for months now that Babar is badly out of form and needs to rediscover his touch.

My comment about the crowd’s behavior was just a sincere hope as a Pakistan cricket fan, that we show a bit more responsibility and maturity in how we support the team during sensitive moments. It was a small part of what I said, and it was never meant to excuse his failures. Yet somehow a few people have fixated on that one thing and twisted it into something it’s not. Just nonsense after nonsense.

Good players need to develop that switch to block out the noise. It is not a fraction of what players of the past experienced, especially Indian plauers. I am not saying you have tried to excuse his failures, however, it is unfair to place the burden on the fans, whether it is indeed a small part or large part of what you have said.

Rather than resort to name calling, perhaps you should review your post and rewrite it to get your point across better. As it seems, everyone has misunderstood it, and we are childish, fans in the ground watching their team play are immature and only you are correct.

 

[Caved12]

Good players need to develop that switch to block out the noise. It is not a fraction of what players of the past experienced, especially Indian plauers. I am not saying you have tried to excuse his failures, however, it is unfair to place the burden on the fans, whether it is indeed a small part or large part of what you have said.

Rather than resort to name calling, perhaps you should review your post and rewrite it to get your point across better. As it seems, everyone has misunderstood it, and we are childish, fans in the ground watching their team play are immature and only you are correct.

No, I don’t need to, I’ve already explained everything in detail across several posts in this thread. You still seem to have trouble understanding, or perhaps you’re doing it on purpose, especially since you initially implied that I was making excuses for Babar’s failures. And like many others, you’ll probably twist and turn this into something silly, so it’s best I step away from this pointless debate.

 

[Caved12]

I’ve criticized Babar plenty over the years, his failures, his captaincy, his decision making, you name it. But my criticism has always been balanced. I also recognize and appreciate what he’s done for Pakistan and how consistent he was as a run machine for years.

Just because a few loud fans or haters keep making noise and nitpicking over the smallest things doesn’t mean I’ll let others twist my points. My first post was fair, detailed, and based on what I observed after watching Day 1 of the Test match.

If you don’t understand something, ask. Don’t act smart or let your bias against Babar show. I’m not a blind supporter, I’ve criticized him plenty when it was deserved. The difference is that my criticism comes from fairness, not from hate.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Some Indians crawling into this thread and talking as if they themselves are not equally guilty of chatting nonsense like “Babar is easily better than those selected for the Asia cup

@Devadwal must explain

 

[Devadwal]

@Devadwal must explain

Babar is way better than Tulla Haris , Agha the T20 batsman , Hasan Talat, saim Ayub etc

It's not a rocket science to understand this but agenda brigade is not going to understand because of babar/ Rizwan Hatred.

And you ,Rana , wannabe etc are parts of agenda brigades.

 

[saimayubera]

Some Indians crawling into this thread and talking as if they themselves are not equally guilty of chatting nonsense like “Babar is easily better than those selected for the Asia cup

Not mutually exclusive

1. Babar isn't that good
2. Still the best in Pakistan

There are no world class batsmen hiding away in the domestics.

 

[heddie19]

@Ahmed216 @gazza619 @Raja Ishtiaq @Caved12 @heddie19 @hks222 @BouncerGuy

You people especially had a lot to say for the past 2-3 months and how Pakistan is useless without Babar…

So what exactly do you have to say now?

Top scorer of the second innings, savior of the test match who got out unluckily in both innings. Good batting in the context of the game but Agenda merchants like you will have different agendas to sell again.

 

[Sachin fan]

Never do this, don’t go to the stadium to support your team and then start wishing for one of your own players to get out just so you can see your favourite player bat. That’s not what true support looks like. And never, ever forget to appreciate your captain or any player who has played a decent innings before walking back. Acknowledge their effort first, give them the respect they deserve, and then cheer for your favourite player when he comes in to bat.

Be responsible as a fan. Enjoy the game, but don’t lose perspective. There’s no need to chant “Babar, Babar” after every single delivery he faces, stay calm, appreciate his good shots, cheer for him when he plays well, when he scores a fifty, and most importantly, support every single player wearing that green jersey. That’s what being a real fan is all about.

But hasn't this happened with every super star in cricket, particularly in Asia? People would wish others would get out so Sachin or Kohli could come to play. There would be a 1000 times more cheer at fall of wickets then what you saw with Babar.

You cannot have it both ways, on the one side have more praise and cheer and hype for one player and then claim that it's affecting him negatively.

When things were fine Babar and his fans didn't complain that he was getting more praise and hype than others in the team.

 

[Sachin fan]

Top scorer of the second innings, savior of the test match who got out unluckily in both innings. Good batting in the context of the game but Agenda merchants like you will have different agendas to sell again.

There is nothing unlucky about your weakness being exploited and you getting out to it.

Your unlucky theory would make sense if it was the first ball he was beaten and got out but he was being beaten on the inside edhe many times in the innings and he was actually lucky that some of them were a little two high or he would have been out a long time ago.

If you have a weakness sooner or later you will get a ball with your name on it which is why he doesn't have a 100 for so long now in tests.

 

[Dr_Bassim]

There is no way you can stand and applause such a mediocre cricketer.

His only saving grace would have been if he had like IK personality to cover his technical deficiencies but he is meek as they come in that front also.

YK any day over this nonsense.

 

[Caved12]

But hasn't this happened with every super star in cricket, particularly in Asia? People would wish others would get out so Sachin or Kohli could come to play. There would be a 1000 times more cheer at fall of wickets then what you saw with Babar.

You cannot have it both ways, on the one side have more praise and cheer and hype for one player and then claim that it's affecting him negatively.

When things were fine Babar and his fans didn't complain that he was getting more praise and hype than others in the team.

You’re clearly not paying attention to what I said and are missing the point entirely. This situation was very different and quite strange in the way it unfolded. You have no idea what actually happened. Many people found that whole sequence unusual — even the commentators and Cricinfo mentioned it. I’ve been watching cricket since the ’90s, and I can tell you this isn’t something you see often. Maybe you just weren’t paying close enough attention while watching the game.

 

[Caved12]

I’m absolutely right in saying that the crowd’s reaction was completely wrong. Fans should know better and behave more responsibly. If you disagree, that’s your problem, not mine. Some people here clearly don’t understand cricket, and instead of learning or asking questions, they waste time nitpicking and arguing senselessly.

 

[Caved12]

The words “excuse” and “blame” shouldn’t even be used for someone like Babar. Those terms are for players who’ve completely failed in their careers and Babar is nowhere near that. He’s achieved a level of success as a player that very few in Pakistan have reached over the past decade.

On Babar’s part, he just needs to block out all the noise and work hard on his game to regain his form, which I’m confident he will.

As for the fans, those who genuinely care about Pakistan cricket should focus on understanding what’s causing his struggles and what can help him bounce back. The PCB and fans alike need to stand by Babar and support him through this phase. It’s the management’s responsibility to identify the issues he’s facing and create the right environment to help him get back to his best.

 

[Caved12]

Top scorer of the second innings, savior of the test match who got out unluckily in both innings. Good batting in the context of the game but Agenda merchants like you will have different agendas to sell again.

As a Pakistan fan, it was a bit of a relief to see him handle spin the way he did yesterday. With the kind of struggles he’s had recently, I honestly feared the worst. But he looked solid this time. Just 8 more runs and everyone online would’ve been praising that innings on such a tough surface. Not saying he’s fully back in form, but it was nice to see him play spin with confidence again.

 

[heddie19]

As a Pakistan fan, it was a bit of a relief to see him handle spin the way he did yesterday. With the kind of struggles he’s had recently, I honestly feared the worst. But he looked solid this time. Just 8 more runs and everyone online would’ve been praising that innings on such a tough surface. Not saying he’s fully back in form, but it was nice to see him play spin with confidence again.

Yep. Fifties won't please me in the longer formats. All his fans want his long due centuries. I hope he get them soon inshaAllah.

 

[heddie19]

There is nothing unlucky about your weakness being exploited and you getting out to it.

Your unlucky theory would make sense if it was the first ball he was beaten and got out but he was being beaten on the inside edhe many times in the innings and he was actually lucky that some of them were a little two high or he would have been out a long time ago.

If you have a weakness sooner or later you will get a ball with your name on it which is why he doesn't have a 100 for so long now in tests.

Getting leg before wicket against a pacer is not his weakness by any means.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Getting leg before wicket against a pacer is not his weakness by any means.

Gettin out on a ball coming in is certainly his weakness

 

[GudduBadmash]

Riz will be an asset at any number. He will adjust for the team’s cause.

Agree

 

[hassan918]

Riz will be an asset at any number. He will adjust for the team’s cause.

He will certainly be a better option than Babar Azam in T20 in the middle order. Babar should stick to Test and ODI cricket. His game suits these versions a lot better than the T20 cricket.

 

[gazza619]

He will certainly be a better option than Babar Azam in T20 in the middle order. Babar should stick to Test and ODI cricket. His game suits these versions a lot better than the T20 cricket.

I know the recent trend is against Babar but I am expecting him to up his game and be back for T20s.

 

[hassan918]

I know the recent trend is against Babar but I am expecting him to up his game and be back for T20s.

I hope in trying to up his T20 game, he doesn't sacrifice his natural game.

 

[shaz619]

I know the recent trend is against Babar but I am expecting him to up his game and be back for T20s.

Come on man, you can’t name a worse batter to return to the T20I side. Pakistan’s top order is sorted, he can’t rotate strike in the middle order (especially in asia) & he can’t slog at the death either, on top of that he has numerous disciplinary infractions which he’s getting away with only due to his phantom reputation as Pakistan’s best batsman, a fallacy which has been exposed and even his PR is finding it hard to glorify his 30-40 run starts. Babar’s decline has been extremely disappointing.

Right now he only makes ODI’s & even there, his position is under threat. He’s not good enough for other formats.

People want to go out of their way to defend everything related to Babar when he himself doesn’t go out of his way to improve himself as a batter, he doesn’t play FC cricket or work with specialist coaches, there is zero effort from the guy and he has a very entitled attitude, but fans are the problem and should be silent, we will be quiet for a few momenta when this guy actually makes an attempt to improve himself, and he has a very limited time to do that now because his reflex’s are going to decline from here and get even worse because he don’t work hard.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Babar and Agha cannot be part of the same T20 team.

News about him and Naseem coming back is exactly the kind of rubbish we needed to move away from.

 

[PakPremi]

Babar will be selected for T20s, Haris will also play against SA and Tri Series, and perhaps Abbas Afridi will also be selected. Khushdil will be dropped.

 

[Rana]

I hope in trying to up his T20 game, he doesn't sacrifice his natural game.

So then should he even be in the T20s?

What’s the point?

We don’t need his crap batting style/approach in T20s

He has to prove he is willing to be selfless. For that he will have to put his team first and that means he will have to play a completely different brand of cricket that he is comfortable with.

So what’s the point of him even playing T20??

 

[Rana]

So the B.S starts….


Salman Agha was going to lock in Number 3 for himself. That means Babar will either open with Farhan or Bat at 4….

That means either Saim or Fakhar are officially finished for Pakistan!

In what world has Babar proven to be a reliable no.4 in T20??

In what world does Agha bat at 3 and Babar doesn’t???

This selection is pure crap and completely unbalancing the side! It’s just purely a PR move because the PCB want to sell subscription for their in house production website!!

I’m sick of this team!!’

 

[Rana]

If Babar opens….

Then Farhan will be under pressure to do the bulk scoring or he will be out of the team! He’s your best T20 batsman!!!!


Wth are the PCB doing??!!!

 

[PakPremi]

Babar will bat at 3, Fakhar then at 4 and Agha at 5. Saim and Farhan will continue to open.

 

[Rana]

Babar will bat at 3, Fakhar then at 4 and Agha at 5. Saim and Farhan will continue to open.

So who’s opening with Farhan???

 

[hafizexpress]

So the B.S starts….


Salman Agha was going to lock in Number 3 for himself. That means Babar will either open with Farhan or Bat at 4….

That means either Saim or Fakhar are officially finished for Pakistan!

In what world has Babar proven to be a reliable no.4 in T20??

In what world does Agha bat at 3 and Babar doesn’t???

This selection is pure crap and completely unbalancing the side! It’s just purely a PR move because the PCB want to sell subscription for their in house production website!!

I’m sick of this team!!’

Did they mention this somewhere??

 

[gazza619]

Come on man, you can’t name a worse batter to return to the T20I side. Pakistan’s top order is sorted, he can’t rotate strike in the middle order (especially in asia) & he can’t slog at the death either, on top of that he has numerous disciplinary infractions which he’s getting away with only due to his phantom reputation as Pakistan’s best batsman, a fallacy which has been exposed and even his PR is finding it hard to glorify his 30-40 run starts. Babar’s decline has been extremely disappointing.

Right now he only makes ODI’s & even there, his position is under threat. He’s not good enough for other formats.

People want to go out of their way to defend everything related to Babar when he himself doesn’t go out of his way to improve himself as a batter, he doesn’t play FC cricket or work with specialist coaches, there is zero effort from the guy and he has a very entitled attitude, but fans are the problem and should be silent, we will be quiet for a few momenta when this guy actually makes an attempt to improve himself, and he has a very limited time to do that now because his reflex’s are going to decline from here and get even worse because he don’t work hard.

Shaz buddy, whilst I agree that Babar has not entirely lived up to the high expectations set for him, it is undeniable that he is one of the most naturally gifted batters to emerge from Pakistan. His class and potential were the reasons I started backing him 7-8 years ago.

However, my perspective has shifted slightly over the years. Now, I support Babar not just for his raw talent, but because he represents the quintessential underdog. He is a cricketer who has faced setbacks and challenges, yet still possesses the skill and determination to make a comeback. There's something inherently inspiring about rooting for someone who has been knocked down but still has the potential to rise again.

Babar is currently 31 years old, and I have made a personal promise to back him until he turns 34. I firmly believe that within these next few years, he has the capability to secure an important trophy or two for Pakistan. Such achievements would not only bring pride to our country but also be a testament to Babar's resilience and unwavering spirit.

Let's continue to support him and hope for the best in his journey. After all, who doesn't love an underdog story?

 

[PakPremi]

So who’s opening with Farhan???

Read the post again.

 

[Rana]

Read the post again.

Ok, Saim and Farhan were not opening. It was Fakhar and Farhan. This is a good combination

Pakistan doesn’t need to change this.

Now where does Nawaz go??