Imam-ul-Haq comes out in support of Babar Azam after trolling incident
Pakistan’s left-handed opener, Imam-ul-Haq, has come to the defense of star batter Babar Azam, who has been facing criticism for his recent lackluster performances across formats.
Babar’s struggles were evident in Pakistan’s 3-0 T20I series loss to Australia, where he scored just 47 runs at an average of 15.66 and a strike rate of 142.42. During the second T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Babar faced harsh criticism from fans near the boundary. The crowd chanted, “Have some shame! You don’t even deserve a spot in the T20 team. Go back to Lahore,” prompting a disgusted glance from Babar, though he remained composed and did not react.
A video of the incident went viral on social media, sparking widespread condemnation from the cricket community. Imam-ul-Haq expressed his disappointment by sharing the video on Instagram with the caption, “As a nation, we have failed. Instead of supporting, we mock. Babar, you are still a champion.”
Looking ahead, Pakistan is set to tour Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is. The selectors have opted for a new-look squad, resting key players like Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam. Mohammad Rizwan will captain the ODI team, while his deputy will lead the T20I squad.
Pakistan ODI Squad for Zimbabwe:
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Ahmed Daniyal
- Faisal Akram
- Haris Rauf
- Haseebullah (WK)
- Kamran Ghulam
- Mohammad Hasnain
- Mohammad Rizwan (WK, Captain)
- Muhammad Irfan Khan
- Saim Ayub
- Salman Ali Agha
- Shahnawaz Dahani
- Tayyab Tahir
Pakistan T20I Squad for Zimbabwe:
- Ahmed Daniyal
- Arafat Minhas
- Haris Rauf
- Haseebullah (WK)
- Jahandad Khan
- Mohammad Abbas Afridi
- Mohammad Hasnain
- Muhammad Irfan Khan
- Omair bin Yousuf
- Qasim Akram
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Salman Ali Agha
- Sufyan Muqeem
- Tayyab Tahir
- Usman Khan
The team hopes to bounce back and regain confidence on this tour with their refreshed lineup.
