Ace Pakistan batter Babar Azam was at the centre of yet another meme fest after he didn’t come in to bat against Namibia at his usual No. 4 slot, with Khawaja Nafay and Shadab Khan in at 4 and 5, with the latter
and Sahibzada Farhan leading them to a massive 199-run score against Namibia.
Babar, regarded as one of Pakistan’s premier run-getters, has endured a lean run in the T20 World Cup. Across X and other social media platforms, fans have voiced their frustration, questioning why he hasn’t been able to make a telling impact despite chances earlier in the tournament.
Babar was drafted in as a safety net, a stabilising presence at No. 4 who could anchor the innings and steady the ship if early wickets fell, an area that has troubled Pakistan in the past.
But against the Netherlands and India, Babar couldn’t fulfil that stabilising role as Pakistan’s batting order crumbled. In the must-win clash against Namibia, after a brisk start, the team management, including head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha, opted to promote more aggressive batters ahead of Babar.
Pakistan lost their second wicket, Agha, in the 13th over. Yet instead of sending in Babar at No. 4, the management promoted Nafay. Even after the latter could muster just five runs off as many deliveries, Babar continued to wait in the dugout.
“Babar Azam didn’t come out to bat. Smith once denied him a single. Today his own team denied him the crease 😂😂,” a user tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.
Babar Azam didn’t come out to bat
Smith once denied him a single.
Today his own team denied him the crease 😂😂#PAKvsNAM #T20WorldCup
— Ash (@Ashsay_) February 18, 2026
“Babar Azam is in the playing XI, but hasn’t been sent to bat. Win-win situation for everyone,” another user tweeted on Thursday morning.
Babar Azam in playing xi, but hasn’t been sent to bat.
Win-win situation for everyone
— Gully Gavaskar (@GullyGavaskar) February 19, 2026
“Unreal humiliation and mockery of Babar Azam in Pakistani cricket. He is going through a tough phase, and today’s match is against Namibia; he had a great chance to score runs and get back his confidence,” another user tweeted.
🚨🚨 Unreal humiliation and mockery of Babar Azam in Pakistani cricket.
He is going through a tough phase, and today’s match is against Namibia; he had a great chance to score runs and get back his confidence.
Rather than promoting him team management demoted him and…see more pic.twitter.com/SLB4vvbqpR
— Shahid (@fakhruddin35) February 18, 2026
Shadab joined Farhan in the middle instead.
