Pakistani all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has opened up about why star batter Babar Azam has not looked at his best in recent times.

 

Speaking during a recent podcast, Faheem said that Babar was trying to change his natural game because of constant criticism on social media, which was affecting the former skipper’s performance and was stopping him from playing freely.

 

“Now there is so much chatter that Babar feels he needs to adjust his game,” Faheem said. “This has led to things not going in his favour.”

 

Talking about the strike rate debate, Faheem said big names did not “play with a strike rate of 200”. “Yes, we did not win any major event under his captaincy but you should not force a player to change his natural game,” he added.

 

Faheem made it clear that Babar played his shots in his own style. “If you ask me to play like Babar does, that is wrong,” he said. “In the same way, if you tell Babar to hit six sixes in an over, that is wrong too. If you ask him to stay out there and win the match, he will do it in his own way.”

 

He urged fans to trust Babar’s way instead of pushing him to play an unnatural game just to silence critics online.

 

Babar, who last played for Pakistan in December 2024 during the T20 series against South Africa, has been out of the side since after. He has also struggled for form in recent matches, with his last half-century coming against Ireland in 2023.

 

Babar, known for playing calmly and anchoring the innings, has faced a lot of criticism for his strike rate. Many fans on social media have targeted him for not being aggressive enough in T20s, which has pushed him to change the way he bats.

 

He has now been signed by Sydney Sixers as their pre-draft overseas player for Big Bash League season 15. The Sixers secured him from the Platinum category, offering a deal reportedly worth nearly PKR 10 crore, making him one of the highest‑paid overseas signings in league history.