Mohammad Hafeez: “Babar Azam is a victim of demotion due to his mistakes, and Babar Azam still hasn’t been able to overcome his mistakes”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez believes batsman Babar Azam has been “a victim of demotion due to his mistakes”.
Hafeez was referring specifically to Azam’s performances in T20Is, where the 31-year-old has faced consistent criticism over his strike-rate and lack of attacking intent.
Despite receiving repeated advice, Hafeez feels Azam continues to make the same errors.
“Babar Azam is a victim of demotion due to his mistakes, and Babar Azam still hasn’t been able to overcome his mistakes,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X.
Azam recently showcased what he can do in the shortest format as he captained the Peshawar Zalmi to the title in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
He played a major role in that as he was the highest run-scorer with 588 runs in 11 matches, which included two centuries and three fifties, at an average of 73.50 and a strike-rate of 145.90.
The Lahore-born batsman returned to international duty after PSL 11 and started off by scoring 115 runs in one Test against Bangladesh, which included a top score of 68, at an average of 57.50.
Next came three ODIs against Australia, where he amassed 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 41.66.
Azam was recently reappointed as Pakistan’s Test captain and will lead the team in the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, which will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
After that, the men in green will head to England for three Tests from August 19 to September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah