Kamran Akmal: “Babar’s performance hasn’t declined as much as people think. He is still Pakistan’s No. 1 ODI batter. Ups and downs are part of the game, and form comes and goes”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes Babar Azam “is still Pakistan’s No. 1 ODI batter”.
Azam averages 55.17 in the 50-over format and has scored 19 centuries to go with 37 fifties.
The 30-year-old has been under immense pressure as of late due to his inconsistent scoring, but Akmal has come to his defence, stating that his “performance hasn’t declined as much as people think”.
Akmal added that all players experience rough patches and talented individuals like Azam should be supported instead of criticised all the time.
“Babar’s performance hasn’t declined as much as people think. He is still Pakistan’s No. 1 ODI batter. Ups and downs are part of the game, and form comes and goes,” he was quoted as saying by TOK Sports on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam recently featured in the 2025 Champions Trophy and amassed 87 runs in two matches, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
He went on to play in a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, where he finished with 129 runs, which included two half-centuries, at an average of 43.
After this, Azam captained the Peshawar Zalmi in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and struck 288 runs in 10 games, which included three fifties, at an average of 36 and a strike-rate of 128.57.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, but Azam was not selected in the team.
The three T20Is will be held in Lahore from May 28 to June 1.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper) and Saim Ayub