‘Even I Wasn’t Told’: Babar Azam left in the dark as Pakistan cricket faces major shake-up

Pakistan batter Babar Azam has revealed that he himself was not fully aware of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s sweeping changes to the Test squad, admitting that the developments came as a surprise to him ahead of the third Test against England.

The major revelation came during Babar’s press conference, where he was questioned about a turbulent week that saw seven players sent home, changes to the coaching setup and growing scrutiny over Pakistan’s recent performances.

Asked whether he had been aligned with the decisions as captain and whether he had been involved in the decision-making process, Babar gave a striking response.

“No, there was news for me as well. I also came to know about this later,” Babar said, adding that the PCB would be better placed to explain the decisions.

The comments are likely to raise further questions about the extent of the senior batter’s involvement in Pakistan’s cricketing decision-making, particularly after he was described during the press conference as part of the team’s “think tank” despite no longer being the captain.

Babar also acknowledged Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the previous Test, admitting that the team had failed in all three departments.

“We didn’t play well as a team — in all three fields, batting, bowling and fielding. If you don’t play as a team, if you don’t get results, such things will continue,” he said.

However, Babar insisted that the team had prepared properly and believed it had read the pitch and conditions well, despite failing to produce the desired result.

With his own Test batting form under intense scrutiny, Babar was asked about the absence of significant runs in the format and how he intended to move forward in his career.

The former Pakistan captain stressed that every series and every match presents another opportunity to prove himself.

“As a senior player, you have to take a little responsibility,” Babar said. “You have to grab the opportunity. You have to perform in difficult conditions.”

He added that his goal remained to give his best and focus on the upcoming matches rather than dwelling on previous performances.

Babar also accepted that the venue could work in his favour, acknowledging that it had been a “little lucky” for him in the past. He expressed hope that the favourable record would translate into a strong Test performance as well.

The press conference also highlighted the dramatic transformation of Pakistan’s squad. With several senior players released and new faces brought into the setup, Babar described the situation as surprising rather than difficult.

He welcomed the newcomers, saying they had been presented with a “golden opportunity” to establish themselves.

Among the new arrivals is Saim Ayub, who comes into the Test setup after scoring a century in the CPL. Babar confirmed that Pakistan had almost finalised its playing combination but said the final decision would be made after assessing conditions.

The batting order remains one of the major questions, with Saim potentially providing another option at the top of the order.

Babar was also asked about the possibility of Pakistan playing four seamers, particularly after suggestions that a pace-heavy attack could have been more effective in the previous Test.

He said the team had yet to fully assess the conditions and would select what it considered the best combination.

The former captain was further questioned about the PCB’s disciplinary inquiry following the recent upheaval. Babar said he had no knowledge of the investigation and confirmed that he had not been involved in discussions surrounding it.

He also denied having any involvement in the decisions to send players and the coach home.

Despite Pakistan having already lost the series, Babar insisted that the team still had plenty to play for.

“The series has been lost, but there is nothing to lose,” he said, explaining that the players could now play freely, believe in one another and give the new-look group an opportunity to perform.

With a significantly reshaped squad, uncertainty surrounding the team management and Babar himself admitting that some of the biggest decisions had come as news to him, Pakistan enter the next Test under enormous scrutiny.

For Babar, the message was clear: regardless of the changes around him, he believes responsibility now rests with the players to respond on the field and restore pride in the Pakistan badge.