Pakistan vs Australia T20Is: Salman Ali Agha Supports Babar Azam Ahead of Opener

Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has come out strongly in support of Babar Azam ahead of the three-match T20I series against Australia, starting at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on 29 January. The series, running until 1 February, is crucial for Pakistan as the team fine-tunes its strategies ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking in Lahore, Salman addressed media questions about Babar Azam's recent form in the Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers, where the star batter struggled. Salman urged the press to reduce the pressure, saying, "I wish someday I attend a press conference and not get asked about Babar Azam. You need to leave him and let him play his game and also focus on other players."

Babar scored 202 runs in 11 matches during BBL 15, averaging 22.44 with a strike rate of 103.06. However, Salman emphasized that Pakistan values Babar's consistent performance for the national team above franchise league numbers. "What he does in the BBL does not matter to me - what matters is how he plays for Pakistan," he added.

In 2025, Babar Azam scored 206 runs in eight T20Is for Pakistan, including two half-centuries at an average of 34.33 and a strike rate of 114.44. Salman highlighted that match conditions in Lahore and team strategy would play a bigger role than statistics. "In T20 cricket, no team is easy. We know our roles and how to adapt to conditions," he said.

The Pakistan captain described the series as "very important" and stressed the team's focus on improving performance while backing Babar Azam to lead Pakistan's batting attack against Australia.