Ahead of the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup 2026, Babar Azam came under sharp criticism from former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, along with Mohammad Amir and Ahmed Shehzad, during a talk show. The Pakistan skipper’s form in T20 cricket and his strike rate have been under scrutiny after a slow outing against the Netherlands in the tournament opener, though he showed signs of improvement in the game against the USA.
However, Babar Azam’s performances against India in ICC tournaments since his memorable heroics in the 2021 T20 World Cup have drawn consistent criticism. With mounting pressure ahead of the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash, former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad made a bold bet during a talk show.
Shehzad announced that he would sponsor free food for the entire audience if Babar Azam delivers a match-winning innings against India.
“If Babar Azam, Inshallah, wins the match against India, then food for the entire crowd will be on me. Whatever it is — it’s from my side,” Shehzad said.
The show’s presenter then turned to Mohammad Amir, asking what his wager would be. The host suggested that the former Pakistan pacer should reconsider his retirement if Babar wins the match with a strike rate of 160 or more. Amir responded that he would think about coming out of retirement — but only if Babar scores more than 30 runs in the high-voltage India vs Pakistan encounter.
Ahmed Shehzad further raised the stakes by saying that all the bets would stand if Babar Azam scores a half-century against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 clash. However, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif delivered a sharp and sarcastic remark, casting doubt on Babar’s ability to bat that long in a high-pressure India vs Pakistan match.
“He never bats that long anyway, so change all these bets,” Latif quipped during the talk show.
Latif’s blunt comment triggered laughter from the presenter, Shehzad, and Mohammad Amir, adding more drama to the discussion ahead of the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter. The exact date of the viral video, however, could not be independently verified.
Babar Azam Record vs India in T20Is: Stats, Average and Strike Rate
Babar Azam’s record against India in T20 Internationals has been under scrutiny ahead of the upcoming India vs Pakistan clash. In five T20I matches against India, Babar has scored 105 runs at an average of 26.25 and a strike rate of 128.05.
After his unbeaten 68 in the 2021 T20 World Cup — which played a key role in Pakistan’s historic win — Babar’s returns against India have dipped significantly. In subsequent meetings, he has managed scores of 10, 14, 0 and 13.
Notably, his last two outings — during the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup — ended in low scores, increasing the pressure on the Pakistan captain. With another high-voltage India vs Pakistan encounter set to take place in Colombo on Sunday, all eyes will once again be on Babar Azam’s performance on the big stage.
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