Ahmed Shehzad surprises everyone with Babar Azam statement

Former Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad, who is often seen criticising Babar Azam, surprised many fans by coming out in support of him after Peshawar Zalmi crashed out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

Zalmi’s campaign ended after their defeat to Lahore Qalandars in a do-or-die match played in Rawalpindi. This is the first time in PSL history that Peshawar Zalmi have failed to reach the playoffs, leading to widespread criticism, particularly directed at Babar Azam, the team’s captain.

However, instead of joining the critics, Ahmed Shehzad defended Babar in a post on social media, questioning why Babar is always singled out when the team underperforms.

Taking to his X account, he wrote: "Yes, Babar Azam is out of form. Yes, his last 50 was slow. But why is all the pressure always on him? Cricket is a team game. What are the other 10 doing? He was taking risks today, which was the right approach. Where are the rest of the batters when it matters the most? Accountability can't be selective."

The match was reduced to 13 overs amid bad weather. Lahore Qalandars batted first and posted 149 for eight, with Fakhar Zaman playing a brilliant knock of 60 from 36 balls. In reply, Zalmi’s batting lineup collapsed under pressure. Babar Azam, playing his 100th PSL match, was dismissed for just 16 runs. Only Daniel Sams (26*) managed to put up some resistance, as Zalmi finished on 123 for eight in their allotted overs.

After the match, Babar attributed the loss to poor fielding and the lack of early partnerships. He mentioned that dropped catches gave Lahore extra runs and praised young players like Ali Raza and Maaz Sadaqat for their efforts.

While Babar faced criticism for not delivering in a high-stakes game, Shehzad’s unexpected support stood out and sparked discussion among fans and cricket experts.