The former Pakistan captain and well-known batsman Babar Azam has come under a lot of criticism from cricketing legend Mohammad Yousuf following a string of poor performances at the current ICC Women’s World T20 2026. Yousuf was previously been a national selection officer and coach, has delivered some of the sharpest critiques of Azam’s professional career, slamming his technique as well as his performance in the world’s most prestigious T20 tournament.
Babar who is widely acknowledged as one of Pakistan’s best batters of recent times however, has had a difficult time finding his form during the international tournament. In his three first appearances in the tournament the Pakistani batsman scored a total of one hundred and 66 which is a lot lower than what is expected of an international batsman of his size.
Yousuf’s Critique: ‘Technique Lost and Skill Questioned’
When he spoke out about Babar’s performance Yousuf provided a harsh critique on the batsman’s present performances and overall position in the game. “I’ve been saying this for 2-3 years that Babar’s technique has gone for a toss,” Yousuf declared insisting that the inconsistent performance was not just a case of being unfit. According to Yousuf that prolonged underperformance can be a sign of more serious problems, not just short-term setbacks.
Reflecting on his personal experiences with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee, Yousuf disclosed that he had advocated the giving of Babar some time off to ease his slump. He claimed that his proposal was met with a lot of resistance from the board as well as the team’s management. “The moment I suggested resting Babar, everyone suddenly turned against me,” Yousuf claimed, adding that he eventually resigned from his position due to the scandal.
Yousuf took it further, saying that modern-day batsmanship in T20 requires both technical skills and a solid mentality, saying that Babar did not have these areas. He stated, “The churan of mindset is being sold in a very misleading way. If you don’t have the capability, the mind cannot do anything .”
Comparative Analysis to Legendary Peers
One of the most interesting aspects of the statements made by Yousuf was his analysis of Babar with Pakistan’s historical cricketing greats. He specifically referred to legends such as the legendary Inzamam-ulHaq or Saeed Anwar and claimed that Babar is not in the same sphere as the former greats. “They were huge players. … Babar is not a threat to them,” he said, the comment that cricket experts as well as fans have described as adamant and controversial.
The comments of Yousuf have sparked a huge discussion among Pakistan’s cricketing communities as well as analysts offering their opinions on the right response to Babar’s recent troubles.
Team Dynamics and Selection Dilemmas
Babar’s arduous World Cup has coincided with larger questions regarding Pakistan’s team structure as well as batsmen’s order. In the final game of the group with Namibia, Babar was not given the chance to bat — a choice which sparked debate between viewers and commentators. According to reports, Babar was put lower in the order, and not needed in the chase, even though he was an older player.
Pakistan did, however, secure the victory with a convincing win of 102 runs against Namibia which earned them a spot in the Super 8 stage of the tournament. The victory was a highlight of outstanding performances from the other players in the team, including Sahibzada’s century and a dazzling all-round performance by players like Shadab Khan.
Officials from the team and selectors have defended their batting strategy as well as team officials, with PCB sources claiming that the team’s management had a strategy and that the they were well aware of the defined roles in the match. This was evident in choosing to put bat Babar at a lower position in the order and was described to be a tactical decision rather than punishment.
Response from Critics and Current Players
The debate about Babar’s performance and Yousuf’s criticism has spread to discussions with players currently in the squad as well. Certain players and team officials from the past have taken issue with the comments of Yousuf insisting that every generation of athletes has its own set of challenges, and making a point of picking out individuals in public forums could be detrimental. But others have expressed the concerns of how Pakistan manages its top players during long-term slumps.
At the same time, many former Pakistani legends have also weighed in from different perspectives. Others have suggested critics should concentrate on team unity and the performance in a group, especially after the team’s crushing defeat against India which Pakistan lost by just 61 runs earlier during the tournament.
Fan Reaction and Social Media Commentary
The social media sites have witnessed an increase in the amount of comments on Babar’s World Cup fortunes. Fans of various opinions have responded strongly. Some have defended Babar’s achievements and reminded those who criticize his achievements in the past as others have intensified the calls for a strategic rethink from Pakistan’s coaching and selectors.
The most notable are memes and articles highlighting the unique circumstance that a top batsman of Babar’s caliber did not appear at crucial moments of the match, which highlights the amount of anger and confusion among the fans.
Through fan spaces and discussions, crucial concerns are now centered around the possibility that Babar will be able to re-discover his greatest qualities during the present World Cup or whether Pakistan’s leadership will choose to make practical changes in the course of the tournament.