On Sunday, Babar only scored 23 runs from 26 balls against India as Pakistan suffered a second consecutive loss in the Champions Trophy
In a scathing attack launched at Babar Azam on live television, Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar labelled the former Pakistan captain a “fraud.” At the same time, veteran all-rounder Mohammed Hafeez bluntly told the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to drop the star batter after another disappointing show.
Both statements came after Pakistan suffered a six-wicket loss against India on Sunday in Dubai, which left them on the brink of a group-stage elimination in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
From being identified as the next big thing in world cricket and comparisons with Virat Kohli to breaking a plethora of batting records, Babar was believed to have touched greatness early in his career. But amid rising expectations, the 31-year-old stuttered. On Sunday, Babar only scored 23 runs from 26 balls against India as Pakistan suffered a second consecutive loss in the Champions Trophy. Earlier in the opener against New Zealand in Karachi, Babar did score a fifty, yet he found himself amid criticism owing to his ultra-slow approach.
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“We always compare Babar Azam to Virat Kohli. Now tell me, who is the hero of Virat Kohli? Sachin Tendulkar has scored 100 centuries, and Virat is chasing his legacy,” Akhtar said on the show ‘Game On Hai.’
“Who is Babar Azam’s hero? Tuk tuk (Without naming any cricketer. You have picked the wrong heroes. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning.”
Speaking much on the same lines, Hafeez, who was also on the panel, questioned Babar’s credentials in big games. He said a player is identified as a champion following performances in big matches that are remembered for ages. While Hafeez labelled Babar as a “good” player, he admitted the 31-year-old has failed to help Pakistan win any series in a SENA country single-handedly.
