Ex-spinner Saeed Ajmal defends Babar Azam against relentless criticism, urges Pakistan’s former cricketers to support rather than degrade their biggest star.
March 16, 2025: Pakistan cricket has been in turmoil over the past few years, with frequent changes in leadership, management, and selectors disrupting the team’s stability. Amid this upheaval, Babar Azam—once hailed as the country’s finest cricketing talent—has faced a drastic dip in form, twice losing his captaincy role. Following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the Champions Trophy, Babar once again became the target of criticism from former cricketers.
Also Read: Mumbai Indians Clinch Second WPL Title, Edge Past Delhi Capitals by 8 Runs
Legendary Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has now hit back at these ex-players, warning them against constantly belittling Babar. Ajmal believes that such negativity could further harm Pakistan cricket’s future.
“You have only one star. If you degrade him too, how will your cricket survive? These are major issues. Our former cricketers should keep their mouths shut,” Ajmal stated bluntly.
Highlighting the natural ups and downs in a player’s career, Ajmal reminded critics that even cricketing icons like Sachin Tendulkar had rough patches.
“Bad phases are a part of every cricketer’s journey. No one can score a hundred in every match, not even a legend like Tendulkar,” he added.
In response to Pakistan’s Champions Trophy debacle, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reacted swiftly by removing Mohammad Rizwan as T20I captain and dropping both Rizwan and Babar from the squad. Ajmal questioned the fairness of this decision.
Also Read: Wasim Akram Slammed for ‘1999 World Cup Mistake’ as Old Video Goes Viral
“The way they’ve been removed is unjust. It’s not as if they were the only ones struggling for runs. Ideally, selectors should have spoken to Babar, discussed workload management, and planned his comeback properly,” he remarked.
Ajmal also defended Babar and Rizwan’s playing style, emphasizing that aggression isn’t the only metric for success.
“Babar and Rizwan have fantastic records. Just because they don’t play ultra-aggressive cricket doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable. Even greats like Virat Kohli take time to build their innings before accelerating. That’s their approach,” Ajmal concluded.
Tags:
Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Champions Trophy, PCB, cricket criticism, Pakistan team changes, cricket legends, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar