Babar Azam Backs Shadab Khan Over ‘Respect For Seniors’ Controversy After T20 World Cup Exit

Babar Azam calls for unity and mutual respect as criticism mounts following Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has broken his silence on the growing tension between current and former players following the team’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking during his time with Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL, Babar addressed the backlash faced by teammate Shadab Khan and called for a more balanced conversation.

Pakistan’s campaign ended in disappointment, which triggered sharp criticism from former stars like Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf. The debate intensified after Shadab responded strongly, highlighting that those criticising had not been part of a Pakistan team that defeated India in a World Cup, making the issue a major talking point.

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Babar Backs Shadab, Calls for Unity

Babar defended Shadab’s reaction, suggesting that emotions played a role in his comments while stressing the need for collective support within Pakistan cricket. He pointed out that internal criticism can often do more harm than good.

“When they speak about things, it’s right, but if the current player has said something, it’s not right. Anyway, it’s a different ball game. Shadab said something in the heat of the moment. Everyone has their own way of speaking,” Babar said on Zalmi TV.

“But in the end, you are just fighting among yourselves. There should be an effort to support the Pakistan team. Yes, we didn’t do well in the T20 World Cup. We know we didn’t perform well.”

‘No Comparison’ Between Generations, Says Babar

The Pakistan skipper also addressed comparisons between past and present players, acknowledging the experience of former cricketers while cautioning against personal criticism. He stressed that while constructive feedback is important, respect must remain intact.

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“There is no comparison. If you talk about the 90s cricketers, they are very experienced. They have played more cricket. If they think we are making mistakes, then we must be. But sometimes, there are personal attacks. When that happens, a player thinks about answering back,” said Babar.

“You can say anything you want to when it comes to cricket. But players also have self-respect. When you don’t respect them, you also will get the same,” he added.

Babar’s comments come at a time when he is in excellent form in PSL 2026, leading the run charts with 588 runs in 10 matches, as Peshawar Zalmi prepare to face Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final on May 3.