Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has revealed a private conversation with Babar Azam, in which the star batter admitted feeling hurt by personal attacks and criticism of his performances. Ramiz said Babar shared the emotional toll of constant scrutiny but praised him for responding with runs rather than reactions.
Battling negativity: Babar Azam’s emotional journey
In a YouTube video, Ramiz recounted meeting Babar at a cafe recently, where the 30-year-old opened up about facing negativity. “I met him recently in a cafe and he expressed his frustration at the way he had to face criticism, personal comments over his place in the team and his performances,” Ramiz said. Despite being one of Pakistan’s most celebrated modern cricketers, Babar has often been at the center of harsh online trolling and fierce debate, particularly during his lean patch earlier this year. Criticism ranged from his technique to fitness, and even his place in the XI became a hot topic.
The former captain broke an 807-day wait for an international hundred when he scored a match-winning 102 off 119 balls against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on 14 November. The relief on his face as he reached three figures highlighted the pressure he had been under.
“I was very happy to see him back among the runs with his century against Sri Lanka,” Ramiz said, sharing the advice he offered. “Just continue to do what you’ve done—be patient, show restraint, and don’t react to outside noises. As a player, your only job is to perform on the field.”
Babar had been dropped from Pakistan’s T20I side after the South Africa tour last December and missed the Asia Cup, but returned for the home series against South Africa earlier this month. After a duck in his comeback match, he bounced back with a match-winning 68 off 47 balls in Lahore on 1 November.
He will now be looking to cement his T20I spot in the upcoming tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe as he pushes for a secure place ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. While strike-rate debates continue to swirl, Ramiz insists Babar should not be bogged down by criticism.
“He has all the shots and is a treat to watch even when he defends. He shouldn’t be worried about strike rates; he just needs to bat longer,” Ramiz said.
Although Babar has regained form in white-ball cricket, his Test record remains under scrutiny. The Pakistan batter has not scored a Test hundred since 2022 and averages 24.78 over the last three years. His candid admission to Ramiz underscores the immense pressure modern cricketers face, both on and off the field.
