Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has come forward in defense of Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, urging fans to show patience and support rather than harsh criticism. Babar has been under intense scrutiny following a string of underwhelming performances, including his slow-paced innings against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy opener.
Speaking on an Indian sports channel, Sidhu shared a powerful analogy about a military general who endured stones thrown by strangers but was deeply hurt when betrayed by his own comrades. He used this story to highlight the emotional impact of Pakistani fans turning against their own captain.
“Babar is a human being, let him play. Even Virat Kohli had failed, and so has Babar. But he is a great player and a good human being. He has scored so many runs for you. Learn to respect your heroes instead of throwing stones at them,” Sidhu stated.
Babar Azam’s innings of 64 off 90 balls against New Zealand, which included 52 dot balls, sparked backlash for slowing Pakistan’s chase. His struggles continued against India, where he managed only 23 runs off 26 balls before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya.
Despite the criticism, Sidhu’s message serves as a reminder that even the best players experience rough patches, and true fans should stand by their heroes in times of struggle.
