Babar Azam Archives

‘Babar, Fakhar can be dropped,’ Agha insists on merit-based selection

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, on Friday, emphasised that team selection will be determined strictly by merit, with no senior player, including Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, guaranteed a spot in the Playing XI.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Pakistan’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against the Netherlands, Agha emphasised that the team’s priority is to field the combination best suited to winning.

“We have arrived as a 15-member squad, and we will try to play the combination that is best for the team. Even if a senior player, whether Fakhar or Babar, does not fit into the combination, we will not play them,” he said.

“Fakhar and Babar have given great performances for Pakistan for years. I fully support them, but we will make the Playing XI only based on what is good for the team.”

Agha also expressed confidence in the team’s preparation and mindset, insisting there is no pressure ahead of the opening games.

“Our preparation has been very good. We will try to win every match and believe we can lift the World Cup,” he added.

The captain also voiced frustration over off-field topics dominating press conferences, calling for discussions to remain focused on cricket.

“Lately, there have been too many questions that are not about cricket. We are here as sportsmen and want to talk only about the game. We try to keep our focus on cricket and not let outside factors affect us,” he said.

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Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that the weather could be a factor in Sri Lanka, but insisted it was beyond the team’s control.

“You cannot fight the weather or rain; it is not in our control. What is in our control is our performance, and we will try to deliver in all matches. Our focus is on winning our games,” he said.

He also backed spinner Usman Tariq, whose bowling action has come under scrutiny, calling him an X-factor for Pakistan.

“I don’t understand why there is so much talk about his action. His action has already been cleared twice. Usman Tariq is an X-factor for us, and we will use him whenever we feel we need him,” Agha said.

The captain confirmed he will continue to bat at number three.

“I am performing well at number three, so I will continue to bat there. There is no need to change it,” he said.

On the strategy against the Netherlands, the Pakistan captain highlighted the importance of executing plans against teams Pakistan does not face regularly.

“We do not play against teams like the Netherlands very often, so we must remain careful. We have played good cricket over the past six months, and now it is about executing our plans,” he concluded.

READ: Colombo weather update ahead of Pakistan vs Netherlands

Peshawar Zalmi confirm Babar Azam’s retention price

Peshawar Zalmi on Wednesday revealed the retention prices of their four retained players, including star batter Babar Azam, ahead of the historic Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 players’ auction, scheduled for February 11.

The franchise confirmed the figures through PSL’s official social media accounts, with skipper Babar Azam retained in the Platinum category for PKR 70 million.

Sufyan Moqim, kept in the Diamond category, will earn PKR 44.8 million, while Abdul Samad, selected in the Gold category, is set to receive PKR 28 million. Saad Baig, retained under the Emerging category, will earn PKR 19.6 million.

The yellow storm is coming ⚡️

Peshawar Zalmi have confirmed their retentions for HBL PSL 2026, ahead of the upcoming Player’s Auction#HBLPSL | #NewEra pic.twitter.com/wnF8PepPto

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 4, 2026

With these retentions, Peshawar Zalmi have so far spent PKR 162.4 million from their overall franchise budget ahead of the auction.

Each PSL 11 franchise has been allotted a total purse of PKR 450 million, with an additional PKR 55 million reserved for direct signings under the league’s new auction-based model.

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This year, PSL has introduced a major shift in player recruitment, replacing the traditional draft system with a full-fledged auction format for the first time in the league’s history.

Five of the six old franchises had announced their retained players by Tuesday, while Multan Sultans confirmed they will enter the auction with zero retentions, giving them the maximum purse to spend during the bidding process.

PSL 11 retentions

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold), Mohammad Naeem (Silver)

Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hasan Nawaz (Gold), Shamyl Hussain (Emerging)

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (Platinum), Salman Irshad (Gold), Andries Gous (Silver)

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (Platinum), Sufyan Moqim (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold), Ali Raza (Emerging)

Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali (Platinum), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold), Saad Baig (Emerging)

READ: Karachi Kings reveal retention prices of four players ahead of PSL auction

Peshawar Zalmi announce retentions for PSL 11

Peshawar Zalmi has retained ace batter Babar Azam for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, the franchise confirmed on Tuesday.

Zalmi shared the much-anticipated retention update in a social media post with an animated poster.

“Locked in and confirmed. Here’s the Yellow Storm shaping up for #HBLPSL11,” the caption of the post read.

Babar Azam (Platinum) has been retained, whereas the ace batter Saim Ayub was released as per the new framework of the auction system.

Saim Ayub joined the outfit in the 2022 season and played 33 matches, amassing 860 runs at a strike rate of 152.48.

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Besides Babar, Sufiyan Muqeem (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold), and Ali Raza (Emerging) also secured their spots in the team ahead of the auction.

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It is worth noting that PSL is set to move to an auction model, marking a shift from the traditional draft system.

Under the new structure, each franchise is allowed to retain up to four players, with one player per category.

Moreover, this time around, teams could not retain up to eight players, along with additional provisions such as mentors, brand ambassadors, and the Right to Match (RTM) option.

The PCB has also abolished the mentor, brand ambassador, and RTM clauses altogether, streamlining the squad-building process ahead of the auction.

For the unversed, the PSL 11 will get underway on March 26, 2026, and will mark Faisalabad’s first-ever stint as a host city. The venue will join Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, expanding the league to five host cities.

READ: Quetta Gladiators retentions revealed for PSL 11

Babar Azam surpasses Kohli to reach major T20I milestone

LAHORE: Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam on Sunday broke another record held by India’s Virat Kohli, becoming the leading half-century maker in the men’s T20Is.

The 31-year-old reached the landmark feat during Pakistan’s third T20I against Australia, scoring 50* from 36 balls with the aid of three fours and a six.

The knock marked Babar’s 39th half-century in T20Is, taking him past Kohli, who brought down curtains on his decorated limited-overs career in 2024 after scoring 38 fifties.

Most half-centuries in men’s T20Is

39* – Babar Azam Pakistan (132 innings)
38 – Virat Kohli India (117 innings)
32 – Rohit Sharma India (151 innings)
30 – Mohammad Rizwan Pakistan (93 innings)
28 – David Warner (110 innings)
28 – Jos Buttler (132 innings)

For those unaware, Babar is also the top run-scorer in men’s T20Is, accumulating 4505 runs in 132 innings, with an average of 39.51 and a strike rate of 128.38. Additionally, he has scored three centuries in this format.

With the help of his half-century, Pakistan posted a daunting total of 207 in 20 overs against Australia.

In reply, Australia were bowled out for just 96 in 16.5 overs. The visitors lost the fixture by 111 runs, their biggest margin of defeat in T20I cricket.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz picked up five wicket haul in his quota of four overs while giving away 19. Shaheen Shah Afridi also took two wickets.

With this win, Pakistan also completed 3-0 whitewash over them, a timely confidence booster ahead of T20 World Cup 2026.

READ: India defeat Pakistan to reach U19 World Cup semi-final

Babar, Nawaz star as Pakistan complete whitewash against Australia

LAHORE: Pakistan on Sunday crushed Australia by a hefty margin of 111 runs in the third and final T20I as Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Nawaz starred to give the home side a timely confidence booster ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Set a daunting 208, Australia were skittled for 96 in 16.5 overs, with the last batter, Adam Zampa, not coming out to bat.

The home side inflicted a miserable start on Australia as Shaheen Afridi knocked over Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh on the fourth ball of the over.

This set the tone as the Australian batting order could not deliver, with Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw getting dismissed in a cheap manner.

As a result, Australia were reduced to 16-3 in 2.5 overs with Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis at the crease.

The pair arrested the slide with a 44-run partnership for the fourth wicket, propelling the score to 60 in 9.1 overs.

Mohammad Nawaz broke the threatening stand, cleaning up Stoinis. The all-rounder made 23 from 22 with the help of three fours.

Following the wicket, the Australian innings quickly unfolded with Nawaz tormented through the visitors’ batting order.

The whole side was eventually bowled out, leading to their largest defeat margin in T20Is.

For Pakistan, Mohammad Nawaz picked up five wicket haul in his quota of four overs while giving away 19. Shaheen Shah Afridi also took two wickets.

Earlier, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam’s gutsy half-centuries and a quick-fire knock from Shadab Khan propelled Pakistan to a big total

Opting to bat first, Pakistan racked up 207-6 at the end of their 20 overs.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to bat first proved decisive as the hosts recovered from an early setback to post their highest total of the series in the Pakistan vs Australia T20I clash.

The Green Shirts made a stuttering start when opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for 10 in the second over, with just 14 runs on the board.

The early wicket brought Agha to the crease at number three, but the skipper failed to repeat his earlier heroics, falling for a three-ball five to Ben Dwarshuis, leaving Pakistan struggling at 34 for 2 in 3.4 overs.

The innings steadied when experienced campaigner Babar Azam joined Saim Ayub, and the pair shifted momentum with a brisk 69-run partnership for the third wicket. Ayub was the aggressor, finding the gaps with ease before being dismissed on the first ball of the 12th over.

Ayub top-scored with a polished 56 off 37 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, before holing out to a spectacular catch by Matthew Renshaw in the deep off Matthew Kuhnemann.

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Babar then combined briefly with Khawaja Nafay, adding 28 runs for the fourth wicket. Nafay impressed with a quick 21 off 12 balls, hitting two sixes and a boundary before departing.

With Pakistan well placed at 131 for 4 after 14 overs, all-rounder Shadab Khan provided late impetus, smashing a rapid 46 off just 19 deliveries, including five sixes among seven boundaries.

Shadab also shared a vital 57-run stand with Babar, who anchored the innings and remained unbeaten on 50 from 36 balls, featuring three fours and a six.

For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis was the most effective bowler, finishing with 2 for 39, while Matthew Kuhnemann, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, and Matthew Short claimed one wicket each.

READ: PSL new outfit Hyderabad set for official launch on Feb 7

Agha explains reason for promotion over Babar Azam in batting order

LAHORE: Pakistan T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha has shared the strategic reason for replacing Babar Azam at the No. 3 spot in the batting order ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Agha took the No. 3 position from Babar Azam during the Sri Lanka series and played a blinder during the rain-hit third T20I.

The right-hander was on the verge of breaking Pakistan’s fastest fifty record, scoring 45 off just 12 balls, including three sixes and five fours.

In the first T20I against Australia played today at the Gaddafi Stadium, Salman also came to the fore when the home side lost Sahibzada Farhan for a duck on only the second ball of the innings.

The 32-year-old hit 39 from 27 deliveries, striking four sixes and a boundary.

Overall, Salman has batted at the this position in seven matches, accumulating 216 runs at a strike rate of 161.19 — a stark contrast to his overall T20 career strike rate which is 118.32.

After sealing a 22 run win over Australia in the first of three T20I matches, Agha emphasized batting and clinical bowling performance.

“It was a great game. We started well with the bat but couldn’t finish the way we wanted. It became challenging after the first ten overs as the ball stopped coming onto the bat, but I think we were outstanding with the ball,” he said.

The skipper said that he will be permanently taking up the one down position in a bid to capitalize on spin bowling with an eye on Sri Lanka conditions in T20 World Cup 2026.

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“Yes, I’ll be batting at number three. We expect to face a lot of spin, and I believe I can dominate spin during the powerplay. That’s why I moved up, and that is where I’ll stay,” he maintained.

Pakistan were once on course of scoring 200; however Australia curtailed their innings to 168 at the end of 20 overs.

“To be honest, I felt 170 was enough. Given how we were placed after ten overs, we probably could have scored 15 more, but I knew 170 would be plenty on this pitch because our spin bowling is outstanding,” Agha said regarding the team’s total.

Salman Ali Agha also lavished praised on spinners, particularly Abrar Ahmed and expressed confidence ahead of the mega event.

“Abrar has been outstanding since his debut. Since the Asia Cup, our spin bowling has been doing really well for us; they are winning us games day in and day out. Hopefully, they can continue this form through to the World Cup,” he concluded.

READ: Saim Ayub reveals game-plan after Australia victory

Marsh looking forward to Babar Azam ‘challenge’ in T20I series

LAHORE: Australia T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh has expressed his excitement ahead of Pakistan T20I series, stating that he is looking forward to the challenge of playing against Babar Azam.

Speaking in the pre-series press conference, Marsh talked about Pakistani players playing in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 and praised Babar Azam.

“It was great to see some Pakistan players playing the Big Bash; it brought a whole new audience, and I’m hopeful that they enjoyed their time in Australia,” Marsh told reporters.

Marsh also mentioned sub continent conditions, noting that Babar Azam had been a world-class performer for Pakistan for a long time. He added that Babar remained a different challenge and that they were well aware of it.

“Babar’s been a world-class player for a long period of time for Pakistan, so we have great respect for him, and we know that in these conditions he’s one of the best players in the world still so we look forward to that challenge,” he added.

The skipper also tipped the series as a vita preparatory platform for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.

“It’s a really important time in both teams’ preparations for the World Cup. Most of the squad has been in Dubai for the last four days training and getting together,” he maintained.

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“Some of us have obviously flown in a little bit later due to Big Bash commitments, but we’re certainly ready to go, and we’re looking forward to a great series,” he explained.

The 34-year-old admitted he had not packed many jumpers, saying he was unaware how cold it could get in Pakistan but would be better prepared next time

“Yes, I must admit I didn’t pack too many jumpers. I wasn’t aware that Pakistan got this cold, so I’ll know for next time, but I think one of the things about our group and most international teams now is that preparation can look different for every tour,” Marsh concluded.

READ: Seifert, Santner shine in New Zealand consolation win over India

Babar Azam, Saim Ayub climb ICC rankings ahead of Australia T20Is

DUBAI: Pakistan batters Babar Azam and Saim Ayub have received a timely boost in the latest ICC T20I batting rankings, released ahead of the Green Shirts’ home series against Australia.

Pakistan are set to host Australia in a three-match T20I series, beginning tomorrow, which will serve as the national side’s final assignment before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

According to the updated ICC rankings, Babar Azam has climbed one place to 31st, while Saim Ayub made a two-position jump to move into joint 35th.

Saim now shares the spot with West Indies batter Brandon King, who also made a significant improvement, climbing 15 places to reach the same position.

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Sahibzada Farhan continues to be Pakistan’s highest-ranked batter in the format, holding firm at fifth in the T20I batting rankings. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha is currently placed at 41st.

Pakistan also witnessed gains in the bowling charts as Abrar Ahmed improved by one spot and is now placed joint fourth, alongside New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy.

Fast bowler Salman Mirza also moved up by one place to sit at 18th. However, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz slipped two places, dropping to 15th in the latest update.

Meanwhile, Saim Ayub also registered progress in bowling rankings, improving by one place to reach 54th.

READ: Salman Ali Agha defends Babar Azam despite below-par BBL

Salman Ali Agha defends Babar Azam despite below-par BBL

LAHORE: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha on Wednesday came out strongly in defence of star batter Babar Azam ahead of the national team’s three-match series against Australia, set to begin on Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Salman addressed the media in Lahore a day before the opening match of the three-game series, which will be played from January 29 to February 1 at the same venue.

During the press conference, Salman was asked whether Babar could regain form after a below-par Big Bash League (BBL) 15 campaign for Sydney Sixers, where he scored 202 runs in 11 matches, averaging 22.44 with a strike rate of 103.06.

However, the Pakistan captain dismissed the concern, stating that Babar’s performances for Pakistan matter more than what he does in the BBL, insisting the franchise cricket form should not be used to judge his value.

“I wish someday I attend a press conference and not get asked about Babar Azam,” Salman said. “You [media] need to leave him and let him play his game, and also focus on other players.”

“Look, I agree Babar did not play as per expectations in the BBL, but for us, he has been a proven performer always, so I have no issues. For me, it only matters how he plays for Pakistan. What he does in the BBL does not matter to me.”

Babar, who remains one of Pakistan’s most reliable batters in the format, played eight T20Is in 2025, scoring 206 runs at an impressive average of 34.33, including two half-centuries.

His strike rate, however, remained under scrutiny, standing at 114.44.

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Salman Ali Agha also spoke about Pakistan’s approach in home conditions, highlighting how scoring patterns change depending on pitches and match situations.

“We have scored more than 200 in these conditions as well, you can see last year’s Bangladesh series,” he said. “But when you don’t get that kind of batting condition, then scoring big becomes difficult.”

The Pakistan captain stressed that modern T20 cricket has become highly competitive, leaving no room for complacency.

“In T20 cricket, there is no big or small team,” Salman said. “In international cricket, no team is easy.”

Calling the Australia series “very important,” Salman said Pakistan would look to address the shortcomings in their game and execute roles according to conditions.

“This series against Australia is very important,” he said. “We will try to cover the gaps in our game. We all know our roles, how we have to play according to the conditions.”

Notably, the three-match T20I series will serve as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

READ: Jason Gillespie appointed head coach of PSL’s new Hyderabad franchise

WATCH: Babar Azam among stars at PSL player auction workshop

LAHORE: Pakistan ace players Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and several other cricketers attended the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 player auction workshop, which is organized to familiarize stakeholders with the auction process.

The workshop is held at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, with all stakeholders of PSL invited to the workshop for the player auction.

The purpose of the workshop is to familiarize stakeholders with the auction process. Moreover, the briefing will also help determine the players’ categories and base prices.

Ahead of the workshop, the national team players, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, and several others, were seen greeting each other.

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It is worth mentioning that this will be the first time since PSL’s inception that a player’s auction will be held instead of the traditional Draft system.

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The strategic shift is aimed at enhancing competitive balance, increasing transparency, and providing players’ greater earning opportunities.

Under the revised framework, each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of four players, with only one retention permitted per category.

This marks a sharp departure from previous seasons, where teams could retain up to eight players, along with additional provisions such as mentors, brand ambassadors and the Right to Match (RTM) option.

For PSL 11, the PCB has abolished the mentor, brand ambassador and RTM clauses altogether, streamlining the squad-building process ahead of the auction.

The two newly inducted franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, will also be granted special provisions, allowing them to select and retain four players from the available pool before the player auction.

In addition, every team will be permitted one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, a move designed to inject fresh international talent into the competition.

The PCB also confirmed that PSL 11 will get underway on March 26, 2026, and will mark Faisalabad’s first-ever stint as a host city. The venue will join Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, expanding the league to five host cities.

READ: Naqvi to meet Pakistan T20 WC squad amid doubts over participation