Babar Azam's father has publicly backed his son following the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to drop the former captain from the national team for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.
This move by the PCB comes after Pakistan's disappointing exit from the Champions Trophy, in which the host team was eliminated during the group stage.
In a recent Instagram post, Babar's father highlighted his son's notable achievements, including being named in the ICC T20I Team of the Year and receiving the team's cap, despite his recent exclusion from the national squad.
He expressed confidence in Babar's ability to bounce back, anticipating strong performances in the upcoming National T20 and Pakistan Super League (PSL).
He also urged former cricketers to be mindful of their words when commenting on the matter, warning that they might not be able to handle a response if someone were to reply to their remarks.
Calling them a part of the past, he said they should not expect the doors to reopen for them.
Addressing criticism about his outspoken support for Babar, he firmly stated that as his son's first and last coach, mentor, and spokesperson, he had every right to speak. He added that those who did not have such a bond should remain patient.
Furthermore, he called on cricket fans to review the past performances of those making constant noise and criticism before taking their opinions seriously. He urged them to visit the PCB website to check the records, saying that wise people would understand the message.
Chasing 187, Pakistan overcome early hiccups to seal six-wicket victory with eight balls to spare
Opening ceremony includes range of exciting musicial performances
"If we reach the final this time, our first priority will be to finish the game early - not let it go to the last...
PCB also imposes undisclosed financial penalty on South African all-rounder
Zaman says he "had it in my mind to fight till very end" despite losing two back-to-back points
Venues set to host cricket fixtures in LA 2028 yet to be confirmed; schedule finalised closer to Games