Former Pakistan cricketer Umar Akmal has addressed his recent Instagram post regarding Babar Azam. The post went viral and was widely interpreted as mocking the star batter.
Akmal took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain the context. “I want to clarify that my aim was never about comparing myself with Babar Azam,” he wrote. “He is one of the top batters in the world, and I have great respect for his achievements.”
He emphasized that his intention was only about role suitability in T20 cricket. Akmal added that Babar is not naturally a middle-order batter, as that position does not fully fit his batting style. “There was no comparing — just a point about role suitability in the format,” he stated.
The former cricketer also noted that the viral post was a fan repost and had not been deliberately edited to mislead anyone. His clarification aims to put rumors and misunderstandings to rest.
The timing of Akmal’s message is significant, as Pakistan’s T20 World Cup semi-final hopes remain uncertain. Pakistan lost to England in the Super Eights stage, and their match against New Zealand was washed out due to rain. Currently, Pakistan sits on one point, while New Zealand has three points.
The team’s qualification scenario is now clear. If New Zealand loses to England, Pakistan could still reach the semi-finals by defeating Sri Lanka with a significant margin and improving their net run rate.
Cricket analysts say that while comparing players is common, it is important to understand their roles and strengths in different formats. Akmal’s clarification underlines the need to avoid unnecessary debates about player rankings, especially during high-stakes tournaments.
Fans continue to follow the unfolding T20 World Cup matches closely. Pakistan’s performance in the remaining games will determine whether the team advances, while discussions comparing players remain part of cricket conversations online.
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