Pakistan batter Babar Azam has come under the scanner for his poor display in the recently held ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The right-hander looked far from his best as he played a turtle-paced knock of 64 (90 balls) against New Zealand in a 321-run chase, and followed it with 23 off 26 balls during Pakistan’s six-wicket loss to India.

As a result, Babar is drawing flak from all quarters, with many former cricketers calling for his snub from the national team.

Amid a wave of criticism, former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has come to the defence of Babar Azam, citing the example of the support Virat Kohli received from Indian selectors during his slump.

Ajmal stated that Pakistan cricket would struggle to flourish if it continued to pull down its 'only star', Babar. He urged former Pakistan cricketers to refrain from contributing to the negativity surrounding their top players.

"Look at the way India backed Virat Kohli. His bad patch continued for a long time, but no one forced him to quit, and not many wanted him to leave. Meanwhile, Babar, who is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars of Pakistan cricket, is going through a lull, and everyone is busy pulling him down," Ajmal told Sportstar.

"Aapke paas ek hi toh star hai (You have only one star). If you degrade him too, then how will your cricket survive? These are the big issues. Our former cricketers should keep their mouths shut," he added.

In the wake of the Champions Trophy debacle, where Pakistan faced a group-stage exit, the PCB selectors shuffled the decks once more for the upcoming white-ball tour of New Zealand.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have been sidelined from the T20I squad, with Salman Ali Agha being named the new captain in the shortest format.

Ajmal stressed that top players need support when they are struggling, not just when they are excelling.

"As a cricketer, one must understand that bad patches are part of a player's career. You can't play cricket the same way all your life. Even Sachin Tendulkar couldn't score 100 runs in every match-he has been dismissed for a duck as well. He is a world-class player, but he too experienced lean phases.

"So, you have to show some patience. Cricketers give everything to the sport, and when the chips are down, they need that support. When he's World No.1, he does not need backing-it's during tough times that he needs it the most," he remarked.

The Men in Green will play five T20Is and three ODIs in New Zealand from March 16 to April 5.