Former Pakistan Cricketer Kamran Akmal Weighs In on Babar Azam’s Father’s Social Media Outburst
Amidst the controversy surrounding Babar Azam’s exclusion from the Pakistan T20I squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, former cricketer Kamran Akmal has shared his perspective on the matter. Azam Siddique, Babar Azam’s father, recently took to Instagram to defend his son against critics after the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to drop him from the squad.
Babar Azam’s Ongoing Struggles
The decision to remove Babar Azam from the T20 squad came in the aftermath of Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Despite being the defending champions, Pakistan failed to advance past the group stage, suffering defeats against New Zealand and India. Babar Azam, who has been under scrutiny for his performance for over a year now, faced further criticism for his lackluster showing in the Champions Trophy.
While Babar managed to score 126 runs in two innings, his strike rate was a point of contention among critics. In the match against New Zealand, where Pakistan were chasing 321 runs, Babar scored 64 off 90 balls. In the game against India, he scored 23 runs off 26 balls, adding to the mounting criticism against him.
Babar Azam’s Father’s Response
In defense of his son, Azam Siddique took to Instagram to address the criticism directed towards Babar. He criticized the PCB and Babar’s detractors, highlighting Babar’s achievements in the ICC’s T20I team of the year and expressing confidence in his son’s ability to bounce back.
While Kamran Akmal refrained from directly criticizing Babar Azam’s father, he emphasized the need for players to focus on their performance on the field rather than engaging in social media controversies. Akmal stressed the importance of adapting to the modern game and urged Babar to enhance his skills for the benefit of both himself and the national team.
Looking Ahead
As the debate surrounding Babar Azam’s performance and his father’s public defense continues, the cricketing world eagerly anticipates how Babar will respond to the criticism and whether he can regain his form in future matches. Whether Babar’s exclusion from the T20I squad will serve as a catalyst for improvement or add further pressure remains to be seen.
With the spotlight firmly on Babar Azam and his future in international cricket, all eyes will be on how he navigates the challenges ahead and proves his critics wrong on the field.
Assessing Babar Azam’s Performance
Babar Azam has been a consistent performer for Pakistan in recent years, establishing himself as one of the team’s key batsmen across all formats. However, his struggles in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 have raised questions about his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes tournaments. While his talent and technique are undisputed, Azam’s strike rate in limited-overs cricket has often been a point of contention.
One of the key criticisms leveled against Babar Azam is his perceived inability to accelerate the scoring rate when the situation demands it. In modern T20 cricket, where aggressive batting is paramount, Azam’s more traditional approach has sometimes been questioned. As a top-order batsman, the expectations on him to provide impetus to the innings are high, and his strike rate in crucial matches has come under scrutiny.
The Role of Social Media in Modern Cricket
In the age of social media, players and their families have a more direct platform to voice their opinions and defend themselves against criticism. Babar Azam’s father’s decision to address his son’s detractors on Instagram reflects a growing trend of family members becoming involved in player management and public relations. While this can provide a support system for players facing scrutiny, it also opens them up to additional scrutiny and distractions.
Players like Babar Azam must navigate the fine line between utilizing social media as a tool for self-expression and maintaining focus on their on-field performance. The added pressure of public scrutiny from both fans and family members can impact a player’s mental state and potentially affect their game. Finding the right balance between engaging with fans and detractors online while staying focused on cricket is a challenge many modern players face.
The Future of Babar Azam
As Babar Azam looks to bounce back from his recent disappointments and silence his critics, he faces a crucial period in his career. The decision to exclude him from the T20I squad may serve as a wake-up call for Azam, pushing him to reassess his approach and work on areas that need improvement. With his talent and potential, Babar has the opportunity to emerge stronger from this setback and showcase his true capabilities on the international stage.
The support and guidance of former cricketers like Kamran Akmal can be invaluable to Babar Azam as he navigates this challenging phase in his career. Learning from past experiences, adapting to the demands of modern cricket, and channeling his talent into consistent performances will be key for Azam’s future success.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving landscape of international cricket, players like Babar Azam must constantly strive to improve and evolve to meet the demands of the game. While setbacks and criticism are inevitable, how players respond to these challenges ultimately defines their legacy in the sport. Babar Azam’s journey from his current struggles to potential future triumphs will be closely watched by fans, pundits, and cricketing experts alike.
As Babar Azam continues to write his story in the annals of Pakistan cricket, the lessons learned from this period of adversity may well shape his future successes and cement his place among the cricketing elite.
