Babar Azam Archives - FutureSoch

Captain Shaheen Afridi confident ahead of Australia ODIs

May 29, 2026 by Newsdesk

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said the national team is well prepared for the upcoming series against Australia and expressed hope that Babar Azam will continue his strong performances.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Shaheen said the training camp had gone well and described every player in the squad as important for the team.

He said Pakistan has prepared thoroughly for the Australia series, adding that Babar Azam’s recent form has been excellent and the team expects him to maintain his consistency.

The ODI captain also emphasized the importance of giving opportunities to young players, saying it is crucial for the future of Pakistan cricket. He added that the absence of Mohammad Rizwan from a series does not mean the end of his career.

Shaheen further said he expects young players to deliver strong performances and noted that decisions regarding bowling and batting combinations are made according to pitch conditions.

PCB announces16-member ODI squad for Australia series

May 22, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match One-Day International series against Australia national cricket team, with fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi appointed as captain.

According to the PCB, the series will be played from May 30 to June 4 in Rawalpindi and Lahore.

Key players including Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan and Sufiyan Muqeem have been recalled to the national side.

New inclusions in the squad include Ahmad Daniyal, Arafat Minhas and Rohail Nazir, while Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Rohail Nazir have been named as wicketkeeper-batters.

The selection committee has dropped several players, including Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Hussain Talat, Muhammad Rizwan, Wasim Jr and Saad Masood from the ODI setup.

Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were not considered due to injuries and are currently undergoing rehabilitation programs, while Usman Khan was ruled out due to illness.

The final squad features a mix of experienced and young players as Pakistan prepares for the high-profile ODI series against Australia.

Babar Azam likely to return for second Test after minor knee injury

May 8, 2026 by Newsdesk

DHAKA: Pakistani top batter Babar Azam is expected to be available for the second Test against Bangladesh national cricket team after medical reports confirmed that his knee injury is not serious.

According to sources, the Pakistan batter actively participated in practice sessions before experiencing discomfort in his left knee during training. Following the complaint, the team management arranged an MRI scan as a precautionary measure.

Sources said Babar was rested for the opening Test purely on precautionary grounds and not due to any major injury concern.

Officials further clarified that the former Pakistan captain did not request rest himself; rather, the decision was taken by the team management to avoid aggravating the injury.

The star batter is now likely to return for the second Test between Pakistan national cricket team and Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on May 16 in Sylhet.

Babar Azam eyes first PSL title as captain with Peshawar Zalmi

May 2, 2026 by Newsdesk

Pakistan former Test captain Babar Azam is set for a golden opportunity to win his maiden Pakistan Super League title as a captain, with Peshawar Zalmi reaching the final for the first time under his leadership.

Babar, who joined Zalmi in 2022 after leaving Karachi Kings, previously featured in the inaugural PSL season in 2016 with Islamabad United under captain Misbah-ul-Haq, where he played only two matches and was not part of the squad that lifted the title against Quetta Gladiators.

From 2017 to 2021, Babar represented Karachi Kings, who won their first PSL title in 2020 under captain Imad Wasim by defeating Lahore Qalandars at the National Stadium in Karachi.

In that championship-winning season, Babar was the standout performer, scoring 554 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 132.53.

In the current PSL season, Babar continues his strong form, amassing 588 runs in 10 matches at an impressive strike rate of 146.26, making him one of the key players heading into the final.

Peshawar Zalmi beat Islamabad United by 70 runs to qualify for PSL final

April 28, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi secured a comprehensive 70-run victory over Islamabad United in the Qualifier of the Pakistan Super League Season 11, booking their place in the final.

Batting first after Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan won the toss and opted to field, Zalmi posted a strong total of 221 for 7 in 20 overs.

Babar Azam led the charge with a brilliant 103 off 59 balls, marking his 13th T20 century and fourth PSL century. Mohammad Haris contributed 35 runs, while Kusal Mendis scored 41 and Aaron Hardie added 20 runs.

For Islamabad United, Shadab Khan took 3 wickets, while Richard Gleeson claimed 2 wickets.

In reply, Islamabad United were bowled out for 151 runs, falling well short of the target. Sameer Munir top-scored with 44 runs.

Zalmi’s bowlers dominated, with Aaron Hardie taking 3 wickets, while Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit picking up 2 wickets each.

With this win, Peshawar Zalmi have qualified for the PSL 11 final for the fifth time, becoming the most frequent finalists in the tournament’s history.

Despite the loss, Islamabad United are not eliminated and will get another chance to qualify for the final through the next stage of the competition.

Babar Azam equals PSL record for most runs in a single season

April 28, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam has equalled the record for most runs in a single season of the Pakistan Super League.

During Tuesday’s PSL Qualifier, Babar played a brilliant innings of 103 runs off 59 balls against Islamabad United.

With this performance, Babar Azam has now scored 588 runs in 10 innings in PSL 2026.

He has matched the record previously set by Fakhar Zaman, who scored 588 runs in 13 innings during the 2022 edition.

Notably, Babar still has at least one and possibly two matches remaining, giving him a strong opportunity to surpass the record.

Babar Azam becomes first player to reach 4,000 PSL runs

April 11, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has created history in the Pakistan Super League by becoming the first player to score 4,000 runs in the tournament.

The milestone was achieved during a PSL 11 match against Lahore Qalandars, where the Peshawar Zalmi captain reached the landmark, further cementing his status as one of the league’s most consistent performers.

Babar has represented Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, and Peshawar Zalmi during his PSL career. He has played 105 matches so far, registering 2 centuries and 37 half-centuries.

In addition to this achievement, Babar Azam has also equaled the record for most century partnerships in T20 cricket, reaching 46 such stands in his career.

He now shares the record with Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle. Notably, Babar achieved this milestone in just 339 innings, compared to Gayle’s 455 and Kohli’s 400 innings, highlighting his remarkable consistency and efficiency in the shortest format.

Babar Azam breaks world record as fastest to 12,000 T20 runs

April 9, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has set a new world record in T20 cricket by becoming the fastest player to score 12,000 T20 runs.

Representing Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar achieved this milestone during a match against Karachi Kings. He reached 12,000 runs in just 338 innings, surpassing the previous record held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who had taken 345 innings.

For comparison, Indian stars Virat Kohli and David Warner achieved 12,000 T20 runs in 360 and 368 innings respectively.

Babar Azam is now the 12th player worldwide and the second Pakistani to reach this landmark, following former national cricketer Shoaib Malik.

This remarkable feat further cements Babar Azam’s status as one of the premier T20 batsmen in the world.

Peshawar Zalmi edge Hyderabad Kingsmen in thrilling last-ball finish

April 8, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: In an exciting contest of HBL PSL 11, Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by 4 wickets at the National Bank Stadium.

After winning the toss, Peshawar Zalmi opted to field first. Hyderabad Kingsmen posted 145 runs, with Kusal Perera scoring 58 and Marnus Labuschagne contributing 27. Peshawar’s Sufiyan Muqeem and Fakhar Ahmed picked up four wickets each.

Chasing 146, Peshawar Zalmi reached the target on the last ball, losing six wickets. Babar Azam top-scored with 46 runs, while Kusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell added 27 and 25 runs respectively. Hyderabad’s Saim Ayub took two wickets for 19 runs.

Before the toss, PSL CEO Salman Naseer released a symbolic peace dove, with Babar Azam, Marnus Labuschagne, and match referee Roshan Mahnama present, recognizing Pakistan’s role in the recent US-Iran ceasefire efforts.

Babar, Fakhar ruled out of Bangladesh series due to injuries: Aqib Javed

March 14, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket selection committee member Aqib Javed has said that Babar Azam will miss the upcoming Bangladesh series due to injury, while Fakhar Zaman is also currently unfit.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Aqib Javed said the team had high expectations from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but failed to perform as expected.

He noted that Pakistan’s record against India national cricket team now stands at 8-0 in their favor in recent World Cup encounters, adding that if the India match is set aside, Pakistan only lost one game in the tournament.

“A match was washed out due to rain and we ended up missing the semi-finals. After that people start saying everything is finished and demand sweeping changes,” he said.

Aqib Javed added that both Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman are injured and will not be part of the series against Bangladesh national cricket team. He said an investigation will be conducted to determine how two key players suffered injuries immediately after the World Cup.

“We need to find out whether they sustained these injuries during the event,” he stated.

He further said that Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Salman Mirza are not currently fit to play and questioned whether they would have been able to participate even if the team had reached the final.

Aqib Javed emphasized that the responsibility for selecting the playing XI rests with the captain and the coach. “We have no desire to sit here and decide the final eleven. The playing XI should be the decision of the captain and coach since they manage the players on the field,” he said.

The former fast bowler also stressed that every stakeholder must take responsibility, adding that frequent changes after every defeat are not a solution.

“We keep saying after every event that there should be scrutiny and everyone should be replaced — the chairman, selectors and the captain. But constant changes are not the answer,” he said.

He noted that Pakistan cricket’s development has not progressed as it should have since the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 victory.

Selection committee member Misbah-ul-Haq said the focus is on identifying the players Pakistan needs for different conditions and formats.

He added that while mistakes can occur in leadership roles, they are part of the game and the aim is always to contribute positively whenever given the opportunity.