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Is Babar Azam Out Of Playing XI? Viral Clip Of PCB Chief Naqvi’s Urgent Order Sparks Speculation

Rajgeeta

Babar Azam misses practice session [Source: @_FaridKhan/X.com]Babar Azam misses practice session [Source: @_FaridKhan/X.com]

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Star Pakistan batter Babar Azam missed a crucial training session ahead of Pakistan’s big Champions Trophy showdown against India, sparking questions about his place in the playing XI.

Babar’s absence from the session on Saturday evening came as a surprise, especially with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi watching from the sidelines. His no-show fueled speculation about his readiness for the high-stakes game. Interim head coach Aaqib Javed later clarified that Babar was simply resting, trying to ease concerns.

PCB Chief Puts Pressure On Players

Naqvi’s presence at the Dubai International Stadium highlighted the pressure on the team, with Pakistan’s tournament hopes hanging by a thread. According to reports from PTI, Naqvi urged the players to silence their critics — including himself — by delivering a win against India.

The training session, initially scheduled for two hours, was cut short as Naqvi held discussions with captain Mohammad Rizwan, coach Aaqib Javed, and key bowlers like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. Reports suggest that Naqvi was unhappy with recent team selections and took the opportunity to personally interact with players and support staff.


Babar's Recent Performance Under Fire

Babar has been under pressure after his sluggish performance against New Zealand, where he scored 64 runs balls while chasing a massive 321-run target. His slow innings drew criticism, as the required run rate kept climbing with every passing over.

The situation was made worse by opening with Saud Shakeel, who replaced the injured Fakhar Zaman. Neither Shakeel nor Rizwan managed to stabilise the innings, leaving Babar stranded. When Zaman eventually returned to bat, his injury left him unable to run effectively, causing more scoring opportunities to slip away. By the time Salman Agha joined in and gave the innings some momentum, Babar had already lost his rhythm, and the target remained out of reach.

With Babar’s place in doubt and Pakistan fighting to stay alive in the tournament, the clash against India is shaping up to be a do-or-die moment for the team.