Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir has voiced his support for Babar Azam, who is facing criticism following Pakistan’s long-awaited Test victory at home. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made significant changes before the second Test against England, dropping Babar Azam along with star fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, as well as wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
Babar Azam has struggled to score more than fifty runs in Test matches since December 2022. After the team changes, Pakistan secured their first home Test victory since beating South Africa in February 2021, defeating England by 152 runs in the second Test at Multan International Cricket Stadium. Kamran Ghulam, who replaced Babar Azam, made an impressive century on his debut, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s first-innings total.
Read more: Babar Azam Praises Kamran Ghulam’s Debut Test Century
The success of the team without Babar Azam has led to social media backlash against him, with critics suggesting that the team’s win was due to his absence. This criticism prompted Mohammad Amir to speak out, stating that the victory was a result of better strategy and home-ground advantage, not merely due to Babar’s exclusion. Amir, known for his candid opinions, took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the trolling.
Amir urged fans to refrain from personal attacks against players, emphasizing the need to focus on their performances rather than making it personal. He encouraged discussions centered around player performance while advocating for a more respectful approach to criticism.