Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar stated that team officials are thinking about removing Babar Azam from the ODI squad. During a private television program, Akhtar cast doubt on the batter's position in the 50-over format and asked the host if he would pick the former captain for the ODI team.
He mentioned that the management was evaluating Babar's future, though he noted he wished to avoid stirring up any controversy regarding the player. Akhtar suggested that Babar keep playing and demonstrate with his on-field displays that he belongs in the national team.
The former fast bowler additionally brought up worries regarding the difficulties awaiting Aaqib Javed, stating that sustaining batting and bowling standards across 50 overs will prove very hard. Still, he stated he hopes his prediction turns out incorrect.
Akhtar made these statements while Babar is still part of Pakistan's ODI team for the ongoing tri-series against England and Sri Lanka. Babar made 45 runs during Pakistan's 37-run win against Sri Lanka in the first match and was picked in the starting lineup against England as well.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi recently stood up for Babar amid questions about his batting form, calling him the core of the national squad. Shaheen pointed to Babar's output in Pakistan's past ODI series against Australia, where he put up 125 runs across three innings with an average of 41.66.
Earlier in the year, selectors dropped Babar from Pakistan's ODI team for the March series against Bangladesh. Yet, head coach Mike Hesson clarified that the move aimed to give chances to new players instead of discarding senior team members.
Meanwhile, Babar recently reached the milestone of 16,000 international runs, becoming the fifth Pakistani batter to do so during the opening match of the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka. His most recent ODI hundred happened in November 2025, when he posted an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, finishing an 807-day drought for an international century. That performance stood as his 20th ODI hundred, matching Saeed Anwar's record for the highest number of centuries by a Pakistani batter in this format.
