Irfan Pathan: “I am myself a big [critic] of Babar Azam, but the boys who have been playing here in [the] middle overs, Babar is better than them”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan considers Babar Azam to be a better middle order batsman than those presently in the Pakistan T20I squad.
His statement comes in the wake of the men in green suffering batting troubles during the 2025 Asia Cup, which Azam wasn’t picked for.
Having assessed the replacements Pakistan have tried out in Azam’s place, Pathan conceded that none of them make the grade.
“I am myself a big [critic] of Babar Azam, but the boys who have been playing here in [the] middle overs, Babar is better than them,” Pathan said on Sony Sports Network as quoted by NDTV.
Azam is now in action in Pakistan’s home series against South Africa and started off by making 131 runs in two Tests, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 32.75.
He continued to impress in the T20Is, amassing 79 runs, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 39.50 and a strike-rate of 117.91.
As for the ongoing three-match ODI series, the 31-year-old made seven runs in the 1st ODI.
Following the South Africa series, Pakistan will play a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka from November 11 to 15, before participating in a T20I tri-series with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
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