The pressure is mounting, the fans are frustrated, and the results haven’t gone our way. But in the middle of all this chaos, former Pakistan opener Salman Butt has stepped forward with a much-needed reminder: criticism is fair, but it has to be constructive.
In a chat with a digital platform, Butt urged the cricketing public to back Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, especially during this rough patch. And let’s be honest, things have been tough lately.
“It’s not about Babar and Rizwan. It is about any player in the world. It is (national team) a performance-oriented place. Those players who perform will be appreciated, and those who don’t will face criticism,” Butt said.
In other words, if you perform, you’ll be praised. If you don’t, you’ll face the heat. That’s how professional sport works. But the key point Butt made? The criticism shouldn’t get personal.
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“The criticism should be constructive. It shouldn’t be that you just come at someone and start picking on them,” he added.
Under Rizwan’s captaincy, Pakistan crashed out early from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a tournament we hosted after 29 long years.
Then came the white-ball tour to New Zealand. The result? A 4-1 loss in T20Is and a 3-0 whitewash in the ODIs. Babar Azam showed some fight with a couple of fifties, but the team just couldn’t turn the tide.
No one’s denying that the performance hasn’t been up to the mark. But as Salman Butt pointed out, these two players have carried the team on their shoulders for years.
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“Babar and Rizwan have done great service for Pakistan. It is also important to highlight where they are lacking, and it is also important for them to upgrade themselves, and this is for every player in the world, ” he concluded.
Let’s face it: fans in Pakistan are passionate, sometimes too passionate. But that passion shouldn’t turn into blind rage or personal attacks. We need balance—hold players accountable, but don’t forget their past contributions.
Babar and Rizwan have had their moments—iconic knocks, match-saving partnerships, leadership under pressure. But yes, it’s also true they’ve hit a dip. That happens. Cricket is a game of form, confidence, and rhythm.
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