Babar Azam has been the target of a severe backlash in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world due to the poor performance of the Pakistan team in the recently concluded ODI and T20 World Cups. Namibia, for example, did not qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, where the Pakistan cricket team (PCT) also failed to reach the semi-finals, a major downfall for the cricketing nation.
Likewise, in the T20 World Cup celebrated in the Americas recently, Babar Azam’s captaincy came under criticism as Pakistan could not qualify for the knockouts. This came in as criticism of Babar’s performance during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where the talented batsman scored only 122 runs in four group-stage matches.
His shots with the bat were no different from Pakistan’s mishaps, and his fitness raised many concerns and questions about their overall performance and status.
Hassan Ali’s Unwavering Support
However, Pakistan cricket team ‘Pro-batsman’ Babar Azam has not been spared the wrath of fans for his poor form despite all-rounder, Hassan Ali standing firmly behind his bat. Cricket Pakistan YouTube interviewed Hassan Ali, who used grandiosely lavish praise for Babar Azam by calling him the “King of Pakistan.” The bowler said:
Yes, I have seen a drastic increase in the amount of abuse I am getting since that day for saying ‘king kar lega’ (the king will do it). He is my king; he is the king of Pakistan cricket, and he will always be one because of the kind of batsman he is.
Pakistan’s Fast Bowler Hassan Ali further mentioned about captain Babar Azam:
I know they will abuse me and disrespect me again, but he is the best batsman in Pakistan, and he has proved.I know he hasn’t won anything, and he should consider winning as a captain. He should win trophies and series for Pakistan. But indeed, he is better than anyone else.
Babar Azam in the ‘Fab Five’
Hassan Ali also pointed out that the four big players of the modern-day 622560000, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root, have been complemented by the new entrant Babar Azam in ‘Fab Five’. Ali added:
He is the boss of Pakistan’s batting line-up. He scores runs everywhere; he has scored a hundred every where here in New Zealand once and in South Africa once, but in India, we played only once last year in the World Cup; I think he didn’t make a hundred over there…You must have heard about the ‘Fab Four’, but now, because of Babar Azam, it is the ‘Fab Five’. Babar Azam is that fifth man .
Early Exits and Prospects
This was mostly because Babar Azam failed with the bat during the T20 World Cup 2024, which saw the Pakistan cricket team knocked out of the tournament early. This was seen through the loss to the USA cricket team that eliminated them and another loss to arch-nemesis India in the group stages.
In these difficult circumstances, the backing from fellow cricketers, including Hassan Ali, speaks volumes about the current while-ball captain Babar Azam’s talent and the think tank’s plans to rely on him to lead the Pakistan cricket team to more accomplishments in the foreseeable future.
The backing of the top batsman of Pakistan who is one of the big assets to Pakistani cricket is in need because due to uncertain performances, Babar Azam has been criticized by every person. Be it a veteran or former cricketer. However, there is no doubt that unity in the team is the main key to a successful career.
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