Babar Azam’s Man‑of‑the‑Series Claim Sparks Backlash Ahead of England Test

Pakistan’s Test skipper Babar Azam found himself in the eye of a storm on the eve of the final England Test at Edgbaston. During a press conference, a senior sports journalist asked the 32‑year‑old how he intended to justify his place in the XI after two duck‑ish innings at Lord’s.

Instead of a straight‑forward answer, Babar pointed to his performance earlier this summer in the Caribbean. “If you talk about my performance, I guess I was the man of the series against West Indies as captain,” he replied, a line that was instantly clipped and splashed across X (formerly Twitter).

That brief defence did not sit well with many fans. The West Indies series had ended 1‑1, with Babar scoring 193 runs at an eye‑popping average of 96.50, including two fifties. He even shared the Man of the Series award with the West Indian all‑rounder Justin Greaves. Yet critics argued that a shared accolade does not erase the fact that he managed just 8 and 6 against England.

Social‑media users were quick to label the response as arrogant. Some pointed out that Babar’s Test average over the last four years hovers around the high‑20s, while others questioned the relevance of a Caribbean accolade in the midst of a 0‑2 whitewash by England. The tone of the backlash ranged from disappointed to outright hostile.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board has already shaken up the squad, sending seven players and two coaches home after the heavy loss at Lord’s. With the series hanging by a thread, Babar’s words have added another layer of pressure on a captain already under the microscope.

Whether the Man of the Series badge will boost his confidence or become a lingering point of contention remains to be seen. All eyes will now be on Edgbaston, where Pakistan hopes to salvage pride from an otherwise disastrous tour.