Shoaib Akhtar On Babar Azam Shoaib Akhtar told Babar Azam to stop playing T20 cricket

New Delhi. Pakistan cricket team’s star batsman Babar Azam’s performance in T20 has been criticized from all sides in the last few months. Many cricket experts around the world believe that he is no longer fit for this format. Babar is unable to keep up with the strike rate required to play in T20. He was also insulted in the recently concluded Australian T20 league Big Bash League (BBL). Steve Smith of Sydney Sixers had refused to give him strike on the last ball of the over.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has also expressed concern for Babar. He said that Babar should have taken a decision on his T20 career. He should have accepted that this format is not for him. In the T20 World Cup 2026, Babar has so far scored 66 runs in five matches, his average is 22 and strike rate is 115.78. The former Pakistan captain is making slow starts in almost every match, which increases the pressure at the other end. The situation became worse when he lost his wicket by playing two bad shots against Netherlands and India, which gave the lead to the opposition team.

Akhtar said that if Babar has to be played regularly in the T20 team, then the management should ensure that he bats in the first six overs, otherwise there is no place for him in the team. Akhtar said in the show ‘Game On Hai’, “First of all, Babar himself should have decided that this format is not for me. Second, if you want Babar to play, then he should bat in the first six overs only. It is very simple, there is no rocket science in it,” Akhtar said in the show ‘Game On Hai’.

Babar is batting at number 4 for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026, however, against Namibia, he was dropped down the order and did not come to bat. Before the Super 8 match, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said that Babar is batting at number 4 due to low strike rate in the powerplay.

Former Pakistan captain Hafeez disagreed with this statement. He said that Babar does not have the ability to play at number 4, he should play either as an opener or at number 3. “Our coach Mike Hesson gave a statement on Babar Azam, but I could not understand it. He said that Babar can neither take full advantage of the powerplay nor score runs quickly after 10 overs. I tried my best to understand it, heard it 15 times, but could not understand. If it is so, then why is Babar playing?”