LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and batting great Mohammad Yousaf has advised Babar Azam to step away from first-class cricket until he addresses his technical issues through specialised coaching, warning that continued struggles in domestic cricket could further damage the star batsman’s confidence and career.

In a post on X on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Yousaf wrote: “I don’t think #BabarAzam should be playing first class cricket until he fixes his technical issues through specialized coaching. Struggling in domestic cricket could further harm his confidence and career. Send him to an academy in #England or #Australia. He is still Pakistan’s top player, and with the right guidance and a little effort, he can return to his best. I said this four years ago, and nobody listened. Please listen now.”

The comments come after Babar endured a lean run in the recently concluded ODI Tri-Nation Series. He scored 118 runs in five matches at an average of 23.60, with a highest score of 45 and a duck in the final against Sri Lanka.

Babar had earlier returned to domestic first-class cricket after seven years, playing for Oil & Gas Development Company Limited in the President’s Trophy. He managed only 58 runs in four innings at an average of 14.50, raising further questions about his form and technique, particularly against the short ball.

Despite the poor returns, Babar is expected to feature for Lahore Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy starting November 3. ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi had indicated that the former skipper would return to domestic cricket to regain rhythm ahead of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.

Yousaf, a former Pakistan captain and one of the country’s most successful batsmen, stressed that Babar remains the team’s leading player but needs focused technical work rather than more match exposure at this stage. He suggested an academy stint in England or Australia as the better path to recovery.

The debate around Babar’s form has intensified in recent weeks, with several former players and analysts pointing to issues with footwork, early shot selection and vulnerability to short-pitched bowling and spin. Pakistan batting coach Mike Smith had earlier expressed confidence in Babar during the tri-series, saying the batsman was still getting starts and that a big score was around the corner.

Yousaf’s intervention adds weight to the discussion about the best way forward for one of Pakistan’s most important players as the team prepares for the home Test series against Sri Lanka later this month.

What Happens Next
Babar is scheduled to play in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy from November 3. Whether the PCB or team management considers Yousaf’s advice or sticks with the domestic exposure plan will become clearer in the coming days. Focus will remain on how Babar performs in the upcoming red-ball matches.

LAHORE: Pakistan clinched the ODI Tri-Nation Series title with a thrilling three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, October 31, 2026, chasing down a target of 326 with nine balls to spare.

Fakhar Zaman led the chase with a blistering 127 off 99 balls, while Arafat Minhas smashed a rapid 61 off 31 deliveries and Saad Baig contributed a composed 74. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi sealed the win in style, hitting a six over midwicket off Dilshan Madushanka in the 49th over. Pakistan finished on 331 for seven in 48.3 overs.

Sri Lanka had posted a competitive 325 for eight earlier in the day. Kamindu Mendis scored a superb 131, his maiden ODI century, and Pavan Rathnayake added a fluent 77. For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Agha, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took two wickets each.

Pakistan’s chase began poorly. Maaz Sadaqat and Babar Azam fell early, leaving the hosts struggling at 14 for two. Fakhar and Saad then rebuilt the innings with a 149-run third-wicket partnership that shifted the momentum. After both set batsmen were dismissed, Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz produced a crucial 94-run stand that took Pakistan to the brink of victory. Arafat was named Player of the Series for his all-round contribution of 149 runs and nine wickets across the tournament, while Fakhar earned Player of the Match honours.

The win marked Pakistan’s first ODI tri-series title since 2008 and their first at home after previous final defeats. The hosts finished the league stage with three wins from four matches, topping the table ahead of Sri Lanka and England.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the team, praising their hard work, teamwork and the efforts of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The victory provides a strong boost for Pakistan ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, showcasing both experienced performers and emerging talent under pressure in front of a packed home crowd.

What Happens Next
The focus now shifts to preparations for upcoming bilateral series and World Cup qualifiers. Selectors will assess the performances of young players such as Arafat Minhas, Saad Baig and Hasan Nawaz alongside established stars.

On July 29, 2025, Pakistan Champions delivered a crushing 10-wicket victory over Australia Champions in the 14th match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at Grace Road, Leicester. The hero of the match was veteran spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose sensational six-wicket haul dismantled Australia’s batting lineup, bowling them out for a record-low 74 runs. Pakistan chased the target in just 7.5 overs, led by unbeaten knocks from Sharjeel Khan and Sohaib Maqsood. This article dives into the match highlights, Ajmal’s stellar performance, and its impact on WCL 2025 standings, enhanced with interactive charts, text-based data for Visualizer/TablePress integration, a YouTube Shorts script, and social media captions, optimized for SEO to engage cricket fans globally.

Match Overview

Pakistan Champions, under stand-in captain Shoaib Malik, opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Their decision paid off as Saeed Ajmal’s spin wizardry triggered a dramatic collapse, bundling Australia’s Champions for 74 runs in 11.5 overs—the lowest score in WCL history. Pakistan’s openers, Sharjeel Khan (32* off 23 balls, 5 fours) and Sohaib Maqsood (28* off 26 balls, 4 fours), chased the target effortlessly in 7.5 overs, securing a 10-wicket win with 73 balls to spare. The victory propelled Pakistan to the top of the WCL 2025 standings with 9 points from 5 matches, confirming their semi-final spot alongside Australia and South Africa.

Key Moments:

• Australia’s Early Collapse: Sohail Khan dismissed Shaun Marsh (7) and Chris Lynn (6) early, leaving Australia at 17/2 in 2.4 overs.
• Ben Dunk’s Resistance: A 37-run stand between Ben Dunk (26 off 14 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) and D’Arcy Short (10) briefly steadied Australia.
• Ajmal’s Game-Changing Spell: Saeed Ajmal’s introduction in the sixth over turned the match, taking three wickets in one over, including Dunk and Short.
• Bizarre Over: Australia’s John Hastings bowled an 18-ball over with 12 wides and a no-ball, conceding 19 runs, adding a humorous footnote to Pakistan’s dominance.

Saeed Ajmal’s Performance

At 47, Saeed Ajmal rolled back the years with a spellbinding performance, finishing with figures of 6/16 in 3.5 overs, including 15 dot balls. His victims included D’Arcy Short (2), Ben Dunk (26), Daniel Christian (0), Ben Cutting (5), Peter Siddle (5), and Steve O’Keefe (1). Ajmal’s ability to vary pace and trajectory, particularly his trademark doosra, outfoxed Australia’s batsmen, leading to a collapse from 53/2 to 74 all out. Supported by Imad Wasim (2/11 in 3 overs), Sohail Tanvir (1 wicket), and Sohail Khan (1 wicket), Ajmal’s spell earned him the Player of the Match award and cemented his status as a WCL 2025 standout, with 11 wickets in the tournament.

Ajmal’s Key Stats:

• Overs: 3.5
• Runs Conceded: 16
• Wickets: 6
• Economy Rate: 4.17
• Dot Balls: 15
• Key Dismissals: Dunk (26), Short (2), Christian (0, golden duck), Cutting (5, bowled), Siddle (5, caught), O’Keefe (1, caught)

Australia’s Batting Collapse

• 2.4 Overs: 17 runs, 2 wickets (Marsh, Lynn dismissed)
• 5.5 Overs: 53 runs, 3 wickets (Dunk, Short dismissed)
• 6 Overs: 53 runs, 4 wickets (Christian dismissed)
• 8 Overs: 65 runs, 6 wickets (Cutting dismissed)
• 10 Overs: 70 runs, 7 wickets (Ferguson dismissed)
• 11.5 Overs: 74 runs, 10 wickets (Siddle, O’Keefe dismissed)

Bowling Performance

• Saeed Ajmal: 6 wickets, 16 runs, 3.5 overs, 4.17 economy
• Imad Wasim: 2 wickets, 11 runs, 3 overs, 3.67 economy
• Sohail Tanvir: 1 wicket
• Sohail Khan: 1 wicket

Conclusion

Pakistan Champions’ 10-wicket thrashing of Australia Champions in WCL 2025 on July 29 was a masterclass, driven by Saeed Ajmal’s 6/16 spell that bowled Australia out for a record-low 74. Sharjeel Khan and Sohaib Maqsood’s unbeaten chase sealed Pakistan’s dominance, propelling them to the top of the WCL standings. Interactive charts, text-based data (tables, lists, CSVs), a YouTube Shorts script, and tailored social media captions enhance engagement and integration. This match, marked by Ajmal’s spin magic and a bizarre 18-ball over, will be remembered as a highlight of WCL 2025.

Key Insights

• Ajmal’s Impact: His 6/16, including 15 dot balls, triggered Australia’s collapse from 53/2 to 74 all out.
• Pakistan’s Strength: Unbeaten in WCL 2025, Pakistan’s bowling and batting prowess make them knockout favorites.
• Australia’s Struggles: A shaky batting lineup and sloppy bowling (14 extras, including Hastings’ 18-ball over) exposed vulnerabilities.
• Fan Engagement: Ajmal’s performance and the viral over sparked buzz on X, amplifying the match’s reach.