Former Pakistan captain and coach Mohammad Yousuf has delivered a scathing attack on Babar Azam over his ongoing struggles in the T20 World Cup 2026. After demanding Babar Azam’s sacking following Pakistan’s crushing loss to India, Yousaf called Babar Azam a batter with no skills.
The senior Pakistan batter had a forgettable run in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. In the big match against India, he scored just 5 runs from 7 balls before getting out to Axar Patel. That early dismissal helped India to take control of the game and eventually win in Colombo.
Mohammad Yousuf launches brutal attack on Babar Azam after T20 World Cup 2026 disaster
In three group matches against the Netherlands, the USA, and India, Babar managed only 66 runs. For a player of his status, these numbers sparked massive criticism. Not, it is being said that the former Pakistan captain could be dropped for the team’s do-or-die match against Namibia.
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Adding more fire to the debate, Mohammad Yousuf made blunt comments on Babar. The former Pakistan batting coach made it clear that mindset alone cannot save a player, saying mental strength means nothing without proper skill.
Mohammad Yousaf said on a Pakistani podcast, “The churan of mindset is being sold very wrongly. Until you don’t have the skill, the mind can’t do anything. If you don’t have the skill, what will the mind do?”
Yousuf puts Younis Khan and Zaheer Abbas in a different league from Babar
When asked to compare Babar’s peak with legends from his era, Yousuf stressed that the legendary batters like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar, Younis Khan, and Zaheer Abbas were on a completely different level. He insisted that Babar can never be compared with these four greats.
The former Pakistan batter further added, “Inzy Bhai and Saeed Bhai’s level can’t be matched. They can’t be matched. They were very big players. Zaheer Abbas…. These four players were of different categories and levels. He is nothing in front of them.”
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Mohammad Yousuf says 120 strike rate is outdated in modern T20 cricket
Yousuf also explained that in Babar’s early years, a strike rate of 120 to 125 was acceptable in T20s, but the game has changed now. He said that the modern T20 cricket demands a strike rate of 150 or more and stressed that those players who cannot meet this new standard do not deserve a place in the team.
He added, “But I would say that in the initial 2-3 years, as you can see in T20 as well. At that time, the requirement of a high strike rate was not that much. At that time, the strike rate of 120-25 was fine. But now the requirement has changed. If you play according to that, you will still play. If you are not fulfilling the requirement, you don’t deserve to be there. Today we want a strike rate of 150-60.”
Yousuf says it’s nothing to do with mindset he lacks the skills (about Babar Azam) pic.twitter.com/YRJTeMcKsp
— Ghumman (@emclub77) February 17, 2026
Earlier, Yousuf called for dropping Babar, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen Afridi from the T20I side after their poor show against India. He had posted, X: “Time’s up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab. Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides.”
Time’s up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab, Pakistan’s T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides #T20worldcup
— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) February 15, 2026