‘Accept Your Mistakes’: Babar Azam Faces Criticism After Poor World Cup Run

Babar Azam faced criticism after scoring 91 runs in six matches at the 2026 T20 World Cup, with experts questioning his impact, strike rate and role in Pakistan’s batting line-up.

Babar Azam faces heavy criticism after Pakistan’s two-wicket loss to England in the Super 8 match in Pallekele on Tuesday. With semi-final hopes fading, former players have urged the senior batter to take responsibility for repeated failures.

Babar has scored only 91 runs in six matches at the 2026 T20 World Cup, striking at 112.34. He made 25 from 24 balls before Jamie Overton bowled him. Former all-rounder Imad Wasim questioned Babar’s impact and role in the XI, noting the need for match-winning contributions in major tournaments.

“How many games are you going to mess up like this? After facing 24 balls, if you get out in that fashion… it’s criminal. You are such a senior player. We saw this against India as well. We don’t have any personal agenda against him, but I’m curious what happens in team meetings. Does he raise his hand and accept it?” Wasim questioned, when speaking on a TV Show.

“Shahibzada was also playing, and yes, he is the man in form and he opens as well. But Babar came in the fourth over, not the 11th. When will he help us win a game like Harry Brook does? When will he make an impact in big World Cup matches? Apart from that 2019 World Cup knock against New Zealand and the one against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup, tell me one impactful innings. You make him open, bat at No. 3, then No. 4, but then what?” he added.

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Senior Players Under Scrutiny After Prolonged Slump

Veteran fast bowler Mohammad Amir also questioned the continued reliance on senior players. Speaking on a television programme ‘Haarna Mana Hai’, he said a core group of four to five players has received opportunities over the last two years without delivering consistent performances.

Former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad, part of the same panel, echoed the concerns. He stressed that leading players must accept responsibility and produce results.

“For the last two years, we have been talking about how these four or five core players have been given enough chances, and they have yet to perform,” Amir said.

“Big players always accept their mistakes. For three years, at the peak of his fitness, he hasn’t delivered. The cricket board facilitated everything within its reach, all for one man, yet nothing has changed,” Shehzad added.