Salman Agha Weary of Babar Debate, Urges Focus on Other Players Too

Repeated questions about the same name and constant revisiting of the same topic—Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha openly showed how frustrating that can become on the press conference stage. Ahead of the upcoming T20 series against Australia, the excessive focus on Babar Azam’s form clearly left the skipper uncomfortable.
As question after question centered on Babar during the press conference, Salman’s frustration became evident. He said, “I want to come to a press conference one day where I am not asked questions about Babar Azam. There are 14 other players in the team, including batters—think about them, talk about them as well. Let Babar be himself and allow him to focus on his batting.”
Although he was not part of the Asia Cup squad, Babar Azam has recently returned to Pakistan’s T20 team. His name is included not only for the Australia series but also in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, his relatively subdued performances for the Sydney Sixers in Australia’s Big Bash League have once again put him under scrutiny.
In the 15th edition of the BBL, Babar scored 202 runs in 11 matches, averaging 22.44 with a strike rate of 103.06. Those numbers, falling short of expectations, have fueled further questions about his form. Discussion also arose around an incident involving teammate Steve Smith, where during a power surge phase, the Australian star did not allow Babar to take a single to retain the strike—leaving the Pakistani batter visibly frustrated.
Despite the criticism, Salman Ali Agha has stood firmly by Babar. He made it clear that the Pakistan team management is not concerned about performances in franchise cricket. For them, Babar’s consistency and contributions for the national side remain the key factor.
Salman said, “I admit that Babar did not play as expected in the BBL. But for us, he has always been a proven performer. What matters most to me is how he performs for Pakistan. What he did in the BBL is not important to me.”