Salman Butt defends Babar Azam after Shoaib Akhtar's harsh criticism

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has spoken out against Shoaib Akhtar's harsh criticism of Babar Azam after his poor performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy. 

Akhtar had earlier called Babar a "fraud" after the batsman went through a dip in form, blaming him for not leading the team properly.

Shoaib Akhtar, known for being blunt, suggested that Babar's struggles were not just temporary but a result of deeper flaws in his technique. He also compared Babar to Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, pointing out that Kohli's inspiration is Sachin Tendulkar, who has 100 international centuries. "Who is Babar Azam's role model? Let's not name any cricketer, but you've chosen the wrong role models. Your thought process is wrong. You were a fraud from the beginning," Akhtar had said.

Salman Butt, who played alongside Shoaib Akhtar in the past, strongly disagreed with the speedster. Butt defended Babar, saying that every player goes through tough phases, and it is unfair to judge him based on a temporary slump.

Speaking on a private TV channel, Butt said, "Shoaib is one of the best talents Pakistan ever produced, and if he reconsidered what he said, he would call it the heat of the moment. But he shouldn't have said that."

Salman vociferously defended the beleaguered batsman. "Babar is struggling with form, and more than his technical issues, we have gotten into his head. His talent is superior to that of every other batter we have, and we have even wasted it because of all this criticism. He is not Kohli, he is not Root, and he is not Williamson, but he is the best we have."

Babar has often been the main target of criticism whenever the Pakistan team underperforms, even though the entire squad struggles. 

Interestingly, while Pakistani experts continue to criticize him, cricketing legends from other countries have defended him.

Former Indian cricketing stars rush to Babar Azam's support amid widespread bashing

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been facing intense criticism for his performances in recent years. His latest outing in the highly anticipated Champions Trophy 2025 match against India saw him score just 23 runs, contributing to Pakistan's defeat.

Amid the backlash, former Indian cricketers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh, and Sunil Gavaskar have stepped forward to support Babar. They urged Pakistani fans to show respect and stand by their star player during tough times.

Sidhu emphasized Babar's contributions to Pakistan cricket over the years and expressed confidence in his ability to perform in the future. He urged fans to support him rather than criticize him.

"Babar has scored runs for you, and he will continue to play for your team for a long time. Learn to respect him; don't throw stones from afar. A player like Babar doesn't come around often, and instead of lifting him up during difficult times, you are pushing him down. That is not how you treat your heroes," Sidhu said.

While backing Babar, Sidhu also pointed out some technical flaws in his batting and offered suggestions for improvement. "Babar needs to work on his foot positioning to better handle the bounce and movement of the ball. If he refines his stance and improves his technique against swing bowling, he will be an even greater force in international cricket," he added.

Despite the recent criticism, Sidhu believes Babar is a highly talented player who can regain his form with proper guidance and support. "Every cricketer goes through ups and downs. With the right mentorship and encouragement, Babar can rise back to his peak form and silence his critics," he remarked.

Former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar also defended Babar, praising his elegant stroke play. "He gives a lot of joy with his cover drive. Even against India, look at the flick shot he hit for a boundary through mid-wicket—what a shot that was! The entire world wants to watch such shots," Gavaskar said.

Echoing similar sentiments, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh criticized the excessive scrutiny Babar faces. "Babar Azam faces constant criticism while the real issues are ignored. Pakistan conceded 320 runs, yet only his strike rate was questioned. Babar lacks support. Cricket is a team game—one player alone cannot win every match. Pakistan needs a collective effort, they can not just blame one player," Harbhajan asserted.

Meanwhile, cricket fans on social media have voiced their concerns, arguing that Babar rarely plays match-winning innings and focuses more on personal records. Many believe he needs to step up in crucial games and prove his worth as a leader and a match-winner.

It is worth mentioning that Pakistan's consecutive defeats to New Zealand and arch-rivals India led to their elimination from the Champions Trophy 2025.