Pakistan captain Babar Azam has called for restraint and mutual respect amid the ongoing public exchanges between current and former cricketers following the team’s disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. Speaking during his stint with Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar addressed the criticism directed at teammate Shadab Khan and questioned the tone of the broader debate.
Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament triggered sharp reactions from former players, notably Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf, who had called for changes following the group-stage defeat to India in Colombo. Shadab responded by challenging their credentials, pointing out that they had not been part of a Pakistan side that defeated India in a World
Cup, which has become a hot topic since.
“When they speak about things, it’s right, but if the current player has said something, it’s not right. Anyway, it’s a different ball game. Shadab said something in the heat of the moment. Everyone has their own way of speaking,” Babar said on Zalmi TV.
“But in the end, you are just fighting among yourselves. There should be an effort to support the Pakistan team. Yes, we didn’t do well in the T20 World Cup. We know we didn’t perform well.”
The right-hander also admitted that in this ‘time of social media’ it was hard to stop anyone from speaking their mind.
‘No comparison’ between generations
Expanding on the debate, Babar emphasised the experience of former players while cautioning against personal criticism that crosses professional boundaries. He suggested that while technical feedback is part of the game, the nature of discourse must remain respectful to avoid unnecessary conflict.
“There is no comparison. If you talk about the 90s cricketers, they are very experienced. They have played more cricket. If they think we are making mistakes, then we must be. But sometimes, there are personal attacks. When that happens, a player thinks about answering back,” said Babar.
“You can say anything you want to when it comes to cricket. But players also have self-respect. When you don’t respect them, you also will get the same,” he added.
Babar’s remarks come at a time when he is in strong form, leading the PSL 2026 run charts with 588 runs in 10 matches at an average of 84. His team, Peshawar Zalmi, is set to face Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final on Sunday (May 3).
