Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has thrown his weight behind star batter Babar Azam, describing him as the backbone of the national team despite his recent struggles with the bat.
Speaking at the captains’ press conference on Saturday ahead of the ODI tri-nation series against England and Sri Lanka, Shaheen dismissed suggestions that Babar was under pressure following a string of disappointing performances.
“Babar Azam is under no pressure. He is our main player and the backbone of our team,” Shaheen said.
The left-arm pacer highlighted Babar’s contributions in the 50-over format and expressed confidence in the experienced batter’s ability to deliver when the team needs him.
“He performed well for Pakistan in the last ODI series [against Australia]. After the England [Test] series, he returned to domestic cricket to regain his form and tried to score runs, but these things are part of cricket,” he explained.
“But whenever Pakistan have needed him, he has scored runs for the team.”
Notably, Babar Azam endured a difficult Test series against England, managing just one substantial innings of 76 runs across four outings. His other scores were 8, 6 and 7.
The right-handed batter subsequently featured in the President’s Trophy Grade-I in an attempt to rediscover his batting rhythm but continued to struggle, registering scores of 12, 4, 21 and 21 across four innings.
However, his recent record in ODI cricket presents a contrasting picture. During Pakistan’s previous ODI series against Australia at home in June, Babar accumulated 125 runs in three innings at an average of 41.66, including a knock of 69.
He finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the series, behind Australia’s Josh Inglis, who scored 129 runs.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi also emphasised the importance of Babar’s experience and leadership within the Pakistan dressing room.
“Babar Azam is a senior player. He has captained Pakistan in white-ball cricket and is currently the Test captain. His presence is valuable for the team, and the youngsters learn a lot from him,” he stated.
The Pakistan captain further explained that developing a competitive squad for major international tournaments requires a balance between experienced players and emerging talent.
“Building a team does not mean bringing in five or six youngsters and immediately preparing them for such a major event. Young players need to be introduced gradually, given opportunities and allowed to learn alongside senior players,” Shaheen said.
Addressing questions about Salman Ali Agha, who was recently removed as T20I captain and dropped midway through the Test series against England, Shaheen backed the all-rounder’s ability to contribute in the ODI format.
“Salman Ali Agha is a strong character and one of our team’s leading run-scorers. His performances are there for everyone to see. He recently scored a triple century in first-class cricket,” he said.
“As captain, I am satisfied that he is coming into the series after performing well, and I believe he understands his role in the ODI team.”
Shaheen also outlined Pakistan’s broader preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“This tri-nation series is very important for us. Our team played really well in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka,” he said.
“Over the last four ODI series, we have been trying to build a team with the 2027 World Cup in mind. Our focus is on preparing in the best possible way for that tournament.”