'Do not mention Babar's name'

A video of a Pakistani cricketer commenting on former skipper Babar Azam is being widely circulated on social media.

During a recent interview, opening batsman Fakhar Zaman playfully avoided naming Babar Azam in response to a question sparking laughter among teammates Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.

The video shows Zaman and fellow Lahore Qalandars teammates reacting with amusement when asked if Babar Azam might play for their franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) someday.

When questioned about the possibility of Babar joining the Qalandars, Zaman chuckled and said, "Do not mention Babar's name," adding a humorous twist to the interview.

Fakhar😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rz88ICZuPn

— Maryam🍉 (@cricisshit) November 13, 2024

As Shaheen Afridi, the team’s captain, and Rauf shared the moment with Zaman, the trio demonstrated the camaraderie they share on and off the field. Under Shaheen’s leadership, Lahore Qalandars claimed back-to-back PSL titles in 2022 and 2023, with Zaman playing a crucial role.

The moment also comes amid recent controversy involving Zaman, who faced backlash from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following a tweet where he voiced support for Babar amid calls for the skipper’s exclusion from the team due to poor form.

In his tweet, Zaman cited Virat Kohli’s example, stating, “India didn’t bench Virat Kohli during his rough patch. If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman… it could send a deeply negative message across the team.”

The opening batter's outspoken support reportedly displeased the PCB, leading to his omission from Pakistan’s ODI squad against Australia.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi addressed the situation, pointing to both Zaman’s fitness issues and the “controversial” nature of his tweet as factors in the decision.

Naqvi added, “Players can’t openly challenge selection decisions on social media. It undermines team unity and sends the wrong message.”

In Zaman’s absence, young batters Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub seized the opportunity in the ODI series against Australia, contributing to Pakistan’s historic 2-1 series win – their first in Australia in over two decades.

With Shafique and Ayub’s impressive performances, Zaman now faces added pressure to regain his spot in the national side.