Srinagar: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has lashed out at critics of Babar Azam and suggested all to back ‘Pakistan’s best’ during his low phase.
Pakistan finished winless in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as their final group game against Bangladesh rained out in Rawalpindi.
One of the key players being criticised for this failure is star batter Babar Azam, who made a timid effort against New Zealand and was unable to kick on from a promising start against India.
However, Salman Butt is one of the few to speak in support of Babar, demanding that fans have his back during his difficult phase.
Speaking on GNN HD News, Butt said: “His Test average with 9 centuries and 26 fifties is 44.5. One-day average is 56.72 with 19 centuries and 32 half-centuries. In T20Is he has an average of 41, strike-rate of 129. Someone tell me if these stats have been beaten by any single player in Pakistan in the last 20 years.”
“The players who are trying to say they are match-winners, combine them and look at how many matches they have won. I think a comparison is warranted,” continued Butt. Pakistan’s team was heavily criticised after the gulf in quality between their team and India’s unit was exposed in Dubai, across departments.
“Talk sense. You don’t have a Kohli or a Williamson. Babar is no Kohli. But Babar is the best that we have,” continued Butt. “If he’s not scoring runs, he needs back-up now. When he’s scoring, even if you don’t like him you will have to sing his praises with the world.”
Babar looked good for his 23 against India, but was dismissed loosely driving at a wide one from Hardik Pandya.
“This dip in form, even Kohli had it, but Kohli is such a high-class player that he kept scoring 50s in those matches,” argued Butt. “Who did he have with him? Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni. Big players, match-winners. Who does Babar have?”