{"id":7049,"date":"2026-05-03T00:21:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-03T00:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/babar-azam-slams-former-pakistan-legends-over-team-fighting-fallout"},"modified":"2026-05-03T00:21:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-03T00:21:30","slug":"babar-azam-slams-former-pakistan-legends-over-team-fighting-fallout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1win.za.com\/ipl\/babar-azam-slams-former-pakistan-legends-over-team-fighting-fallout","title":{"rendered":"Babar Azam Slams Former Pakistan Legends Over Team \u2018Fighting\u2019 Fallout"},"content":{"rendered":"

Salman Ali Agha\u2019s Pakistan campaign at the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 ended without a semi-final berth, but the fallout around the team has extended far beyond the results. A heated public dispute involving Shadab Khan\u2014sparked by criticism from former Pakistan greats\u2014has turned into a wider conversation about respect, boundaries, and unity inside the national setup.<\/p>\n

From World Cup disappointment to a public Shadab controversy<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Pakistan\u2019s tournament run faltered, and the team failed to reach the semi-finals, prompting widespread scrutiny of both performances and approach.<\/li>\n
  2. After Pakistan lost to India in Colombo, former stars Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf publicly argued that Shadab should be dropped.<\/li>\n
  3. Shadab responded sharply, questioning their authority by highlighting that they were not part of a Pakistan side that had beaten India in a World Cup.<\/li>\n
  4. The back-and-forth escalated quickly, as Afridi and Yousuf hit back at Shadab\u2019s comments, turning what began as selection-related criticism into a more personal clash.<\/li>\n
  5. The incident underscored a growing divide within Pakistan cricket, where criticism from former players can spill into confrontational territory and invite reactions from the current group.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Two months after the public flare-up, Babar Azam has stepped in with a call for equilibrium and mutual respect. Speaking during his captaincy role with Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League 2026, Babar defended Shadab\u2019s right to respond, while also urging that such exchanges should not damage the team environment.<\/p>\n

    Babar\u2019s message, delivered on Zalmi TV, was clear: it is acceptable for people to speak when discussing issues, but once a current player has made a statement, there should be restraint in how others react. He added that Shadab\u2019s words were likely spoken in the heat of the moment and that everyone communicates differently.<\/p>\n

    He also stressed the wider consequence of these spats\u2014arguing that players end up \u201cfighting among yourselves\u201d instead of focusing on collective improvement. Babar acknowledged that Pakistan did not do well at the T20 World Cup and that the team recognizes it fell short. Still, he pointed out the reality of modern platforms: with social media around, it is not possible to silence everyone.<\/p>\n

    The earlier spark: Shadab\u2019s reference to 2021<\/h2>\n

    Before Babar\u2019s intervention, the debate was already re-ignited by Shadab himself. During a match against Namibia, he referenced Pakistan\u2019s 2021 T20 World Cup triumph over India, which again brought criticism from former players. In his latest remarks, Babar said there is little room for direct comparisons\u2014especially with eras that differ in experience and volume of high-pressure cricket.<\/p>\n

    He noted that if the earlier generation of cricketers believes the present group is making mistakes, then the current players must accept that perspective. However, Babar warned that problems arise when criticism turns into personal attacks, because players then feel compelled to answer back, affecting discipline and focus.<\/p>\n

    Babar also defended the concept of self-respect in sport. He said that while anything can be said in cricket, players also deserve dignity\u2014and if respect is not shown, the response is often mirrored.<\/p>\n

    Babar\u2019s PSL form and Peshawar Zalmi\u2019s final<\/h2>\n

    While the debate continues in Pakistan cricket circles, Babar has been delivering on the field in PSL 2026. He is leading the run charts with 588 runs from 10 matches, posting an average of 84 and a strike rate of 146.27. Peshawar Zalmi, under his leadership, will take on Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final on May 3.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Salman Ali Agha\u2019s Pakistan campaign at the ICC Men\u2019s T20 World Cup 2026 ended without a semi-final berth, but the fallout around the team has…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Babar Azam Responds to Pakistan Legends in IPL Fallout","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Babar Azam hits back at Pakistan legends amid IPL fallout, defending team unity after a Shadab Khan controversy sparked fresh debate.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\nBabar Azam Responds to Pakistan Legends in IPL Fallout<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Babar Azam hits back at Pakistan legends amid IPL fallout, defending team unity after a Shadab Khan controversy sparked fresh debate.\" \/>\n<meta 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