Babar Azam’s father hits back at Kamran Akmal’s remarks

Azam Siddique, father of Pakistan cricketer Babar Azam, has delivered a sharp rebuttal to Kamran Akmal’s recent comments suggesting that Babar Azam should be restricted to playing only Test cricket going forward.

On a recent podcast, Akmal asserted it was “absolutely the right decision” to drop the two key players permanently from Pakistan’s T20 International squad.

He argued that both are more suited to the longer format of the game and said, “In my opinion, they should now be kept only for Test matches. Maybe after another six months, they should be considered only for Test cricket.”

Akmal further questioned their futures in the One Day International (ODI) format, stating, “After another six months, they should be sidelined from ODIs as well, because Pakistan hardly plays Test matches these days. No one is even talking about Test cricket. But if any real players are made, it is through playing Test cricket.”

Responding on Instagram, Siddique posted an old photograph featuring himself, Babar Azam, and Kamran Akmal, alongside a pointed caption addressing Akmal’s remarks.

He reminded Akmal that Babar had never played under his captaincy, but that Akmal himself had been dismissed for zero while Babar scored a century.

Siddique added, “Talking behind the backs of successful people is a compulsion of those who have failed.”

Siddique also quoted a Turkish proverb: “If someone says they are your brother, they should also clarify whether they are like Habil or Qabil” — a reference to the biblical story of Cain and Abel.

Earlier, Kamran Akmal criticized Babar’s father for publicly commenting on his son’s career, saying family members should avoid interfering in professional decisions.

“I faced tough times too, but I told my father and brothers not to speak; it was my matter,” Akmal said.

“It’s not appropriate to speak against the institution either,” he added.

Earlier this year, both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were left out of Pakistan’s five-match T20I series in New Zealand as selectors chose to test younger players. Neither has returned to the T20I side since.

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