Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has strongly defended star batter Babar Azam ahead of the upcoming three-match T20 series against Australia, responding firmly to continued criticism from the media.
Speaking at a pre-series press conference in Lahore, Salman expressed frustration when questioned about Babar’s recent form.
“It is my wish that I come to the press conference one day and there will be no questions related to Babar Azam. Let him do batting, please,” Salman said.
His remarks came after a journalist referred to Babar’s modest performance in the 2025/26 Big Bash League (BBL 15), where he scored 202 runs in 11 matches, averaging 22.44 with a strike rate of 103.06 for Sydney Sixers.
Salman dismissed the idea of judging Babar based on franchise cricket statistics, emphasizing that national team performances matter most.
“I agree Babar didn’t play as per expectations in the BBL,” he said. “But for me, what matters is how he plays for Pakistan.”
Babar’s Performance for Pakistan
Babar Azam remains one of Pakistan’s most reliable T20 batters. In 2025, he played eight T20Is, scoring 206 runs at an average of 34.33, including two half-centuries.
However, his strike rate of 114.44 continues to be a topic of debate among fans and analysts.
Team Strategy and Conditions
Salman also discussed Pakistan’s overall approach to home matches, highlighting how pitch conditions impact scoring.
“We have scored more than 200 in these conditions before,” he said. “But when conditions are difficult, scoring big becomes challenging.”
He added that modern T20 cricket has become highly competitive.
“In T20 cricket, there is no big or small team. No team is easy,” Salman stated.
Series Details
Pakistan and Australia will play three T20 internationals from January 29 to February 1 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. The opening match will take place on Thursday.
Salman described the series as “very important,” saying it will help Pakistan identify weaknesses and prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
