In the latest Babar Azam news today, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has publicly backed the star batter ahead of the home ODI tri-series against England and Sri Lanka, saying Babar is under no pressure and remains the side’s main player.
Speaking at a pre-series press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Shaheen was asked whether Babar felt pressure after modest returns in Test and domestic cricket. He rejected that idea and described Babar as the backbone of the team.
"Look, firstly there is no pressure on Babar. He is our main player, and he is the backbone of this team," Shaheen said.
Form questions after Tests and domestic cricket
Concern around Babar’s batting has grown after a mixed stretch away from white-ball cricket. Reinstated as Pakistan’s Test captain in July, he began well as joint player of the series in a two-match draw against the West Indies, then managed only 97 runs at an average of 24.25 in the three-Test tour of England, missing the first match through injury and scoring one half-century in that series.
He later returned to first-class cricket after around nine years, playing for Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the President’s Trophy Grade-I. Across four innings he scored 58 runs at an average of 14.5.
Shaheen accepted that Babar had struggled, especially in red-ball cricket, but pointed to Babar’s role in Pakistan’s most recent ODI assignment at home against Australia. Babar was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer there with 125 runs in three innings at 41.66, as the side won the series 2-1.
"He also put in some good performances in our last home ODI series and after returning from the England [Test] series. He tried to score runs in domestic cricket as well, but that is part and parcel of the game," Shaheen said. He added that Babar has long scored for Pakistan and that while planning matters, some parts of it cannot be controlled.
What Shaheen’s backing signals before the tri-series
For fans following Babar Azam news today, the captain’s message is clear: selection and leadership trust are not being framed around short-term red-ball numbers. Shaheen’s comments place Babar at the centre of Pakistan’s batting plans as the ODI tri-series approaches on home soil.
The series brings England and Sri Lanka to Pakistan and will be an early white-ball test of whether Babar can turn recent ODI returns into a longer run of consistency in front of home crowds.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- July: Babar Azam was reinstated as Pakistan’s Test captain.
- West Indies Tests: He finished as joint player of the series as Pakistan drew the two-match assignment 1-1.
- England Tests: After missing the opener through injury, he scored 97 runs at 24.25 with one half-century in the three-match series.
- President’s Trophy (OGDCL): In his first-class return after about nine years, he made 58 runs in four innings at 14.5.
- Australia ODIs (home): He scored 125 runs in three innings at 41.66 as Pakistan won 2-1.
- Saturday, Rawalpindi: Shaheen said there is no pressure on Babar and called him the team’s backbone ahead of the ODI tri-series.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Shaheen Afridi ne kaha hai ke Babar Azam par koi pressure nahi hai. Unhon ne Babar ko team ka asasi khiladi aur backbone kaha. England aur Sri Lanka ke khilaf ghar par ODI tri-series ane wali hai. Fans ke liye matlab yeh hai ke captain abhi Babar par bharosa zahir kar raha hai, chahe Test aur domestic mein runs kam rahe hon.
