RAWALPINDI: Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has thrown his weight behind Babar Azam ahead of the home ODI tri-series against England and Sri Lanka, describing the star batter as the backbone of the national team despite his recent struggles in Test and domestic cricket.
Pakistan Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi Press Conference ahead of ODI Tri-Series 2026
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— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) October 17, 2026
Speaking at a pre-series press conference at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday, Shaheen dismissed suggestions that Babar was under pressure, insisting that the former captain remained a key player for Pakistan as they prepare for the three-team competition from October 18 to 31.
“Look, firstly there is no pressure on Babar. He is our main player, and he is the backbone of this team,” Shaheen said in response to a question about the batter’s recent form.
The Pakistan skipper acknowledged that Babar had faced difficulties in red-ball cricket but stressed that inconsistent performances were part of the game. He also highlighted the batter’s contribution to Pakistan’s most recent ODI assignment, a three-match home series against reigning champions Australia.
Babar emerged as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in that series, accumulating 125 runs in three innings at an average of 41.66 as the hosts secured a 2-1 series victory.
“He also put in some good performances in our last home ODI series and after returning from the England [Test] series. He tried to score runs in domestic cricket as well, but that is part and parcel of the game,” Shaheen said.
“He has always scored runs for Pakistan cricket, and whenever he has represented the country, he has delivered with the bat. Naturally, there is some planning involved, but there are certain aspects of that planning that you cannot control.”
Captain Shaheen Afridi’s Strong Statement 🎙️
“Our team unity is very good, and our only focus is on winning the 2027 ODI World Cup. Some positive messages should come from your side too, the journalists and media, highlighting that this team is united.
If you present the game differently to young kids, they will start wondering why this team isn’t winning. We are trying our best to bring happiness to our country.”
— Mian Ahmad (@MianAhmad_56) October 17, 2026
Babar’s recent struggles have attracted attention after a mixed run of performances in Test and domestic cricket. He began his second stint as Pakistan’s Test captain with an encouraging showing in a two-match away series against the West Indies, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He was among the joint players of the series.
However, the right-handed batter managed just 97 runs at an average of 24.25 in the subsequent three-match away Test series against England, having missed the opening match due to injury.
Read Also: Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England Unveil ODI Tri-Series Trophy in Rawalpindi
Babar then returned to first-class cricket after approximately nine years, representing Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in two President’s Trophy Grade-I matches. His comeback yielded 58 runs in four innings at an average of 14.5.
🚨SHAHEEN AFRIDI’S MESSAGE TO THE MEDIA.🚨(Press)
He said – “Tell the fans that this team is playing with unity and there is love within the team. This team tries to play cricket. It’s a game, and if we take it too seriously, people will start wondering what is going wrong with this team and why they aren’t winning.”
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— Rana Ahmad. (@AhmadRana056) October 17, 2026
Despite those disappointing returns, his performances in the ODI format have offered Pakistan encouragement ahead of the upcoming tri-series, which will provide the hosts, England and Sri Lanka with an opportunity to assess their combinations and build momentum ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan will open their campaign against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, with England also featuring in the tournament before the action moves to Lahore for the remaining league matches and the October 31 final.
