Babar Azam Reveals Why He Does Not Hit Back at Former Cricketers

“I don’t like to talk much; I prefer to let my game speak on the field,” Babar said

By DTD- On May 3, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Babar Azam has been the subject of captious critique from every corner of the globe in recent years due to his struggles, but the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team has finally broken his silence on the issue with a thinly veiled warning to his belittlers.

In a rare, revealing interview with Geo News, the Peshawar Zalmi skipper peeled back the curtain on his mindset, addressing scrutiny, self-discipline, and the values that shape his public silence amid constant noise.

“I don’t like to talk much; I prefer to let my game speak on the field,” Babar said with calm conviction. “I know how to speak; everyone can speak. But self-respect also matters. My elders have taught me to respect everyone.”

In an era where players clap back, post receipts, and defend their records on social media, Babar’s restraint is increasingly uncommon.

Despite being one of Pakistan cricket’s most recognizable faces and statistically one of its most prolific players across formats, Babar Azam has faced the public’s wrath for years. From being labeled too slow for T20s to being questioned over his leadership and intent, he’s been forced to navigate a career where praise and criticism often arrive in the same breath.

“I know what’s being said,” he admitted. “I understand where the game is going—strike rates, aggressive play, all of that. But I always play according to the team’s needs. I don’t need to prove what kind of player I am. People know already.”

With questions still swirling over his role in Pakistan’s T20I setup ahead of the T20 World Cup, Babar Azam made it clear that his focus remains on performance, not politics.

“We were told we were being rested. That’s fine. My job is to be ready. The selectors and coaches will decide. As long as Allah wills, I’ll keep playing.”

And in those few words lies the essence of Babar Azam: confident but never combative, aware but never agitated. In a game often defined by bravado, he remains Pakistan cricket’s quiet heartbeat.

In a time when former cricketers have turned his name into clickbait to funnel views to social media channels and find punditry work, Babar Azam has practiced restraint. Whether we will ever get a no-holds-barred Babar remains to be seen, but his message is clear: he is aware of all that is being said, and maybe one day everyone will have to bite their words.