Former pacer and head coach of Lahore Qalandars in PSL Aqib Javed made a lot of jokes about the Pakistan captain’s strike rate. Babar played for Karachi Kings in PSL. Aqib Javed would have advised Babar not to get out when Karachi and Lahore faced each other. He explained the matter in this way – ‘Babar started batting slowly in pursuit of runs, which increased the pressure to score runs quickly.’

Although Aqib Javed said this, “The statistics say otherwise. Babar’s 49-ball 63 in a low-scoring match against Lahore in the PSL 2020 final saw Karachi win the title. In 2019, Babar’s innings of 69 runs from 46 balls defeated Lahore by 10 wickets. In these two matches, only one batsman of Lahore Qalandars has batted more strike rates than Babar.”

Babar’s strike rates and Aqib Javed’s criticism of Babar’s criticisms, Babar made it clear that “Former cricketers can give their opinion, but many are making personal attacks, it’s disappointing. In the time we are going through, former cricketers have come through this time. They know how much responsibility we have, and how much pressure we are under. I don’t accept these criticisms.”

England is playing a series in Pakistan after 17 years. Babar is desperate to regain his lost form in this series, “This series is very important for me. I want to return to form in this series. I don’t want to think too hard to get out of bad times; I want to take things easy. It is important to believe in yourself. I know that I have done well in the past and will do well in the future. People will always talk—even when playing well. It is better not to listen to them.”