The atmosphere surrounding the highly anticipated India versus Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup 2026 has grown increasingly tense following a wave of criticism directed at Babar Azam. During a recent talk show, former captain Rashid Latif, along with Mohammad Amir and Ahmed Shehzad, took sharp aim at the star batter’s recent performances. The critiques focused primarily on his sluggish strike rate and inconsistent form in the shortest format, especially after he struggled to find his footing against the Netherlands before showing minor signs of recovery against the USA.
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If Babar wins the match vs India, then food for the entire crowd will be on me: Ahmed Shehzad
During the talkshow, Ahmed Shehzad turned the pressure into a public bet by making a bet with the audience. He pledged to sponsor free food for everyone in attendance if Babar manages to silence his doubters with a match-winning knock against India, highlighting the deep skepticism currently surrounding the captain's big-game capabilities.
"If Babar Azam, Inshallah, wins the match against India, then food for the entire crowd will be on me. Whatever it is, it’s from my side," Shehzad said.
The conversation took an intriguing turn when the presenter challenged Mohammad Amir to raise the stakes. The suggestion was made that the former pacer should consider reversing his retirement if Babar Azam not only secures a victory against India but does so with an aggressive strike rate of 160. Amir entertained the proposal, noting he would only consider a comeback on the condition that Babar’s individual score exceeded 30 runs.
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Ahmed Shehzad added further pressure by declaring that all bets would be officially active if Babar managed to score a half-century in the high-stakes clash. This prompted a stinging dismissal from Rashid Latif, who bluntly claimed that Babar rarely stays at the crease long enough to reach such a milestone. Latif told the panel to change their bets, asserting that the star batter "never bats that long anyway."
The former captain’s dismissive remark drew laughter from the presenter, Shehzad, and Amir alike. While the clip has gained significant traction, the exact date of the broadcast remains unconfirmed.
Babar Azam's torrid form against India
Babar’s record against India in T20Is isn't impressive at all. In five matches against the arch-rivals, he has managed just 105 runs, resulting in a modest average of 26.25 and a strike rate of 128.05. While he famously anchored a victory with an unbeaten 68 in the 2021 T20 World Cup, his subsequent outings have been far less impactful.
Since that career-defining knock in 2021, the Pakistani star’s numbers have taken a sharp dip, with a string of low scores including 10, 14, 0, and 13. These struggles have been particularly noticeable on the world stage, with his two most recent failures occurring during the 2022 and 2024 editions of the T20 World Cup.
Given his lurching form, all eyes will be on Babar as he leads his side into the high-stakes encounter in Colombo on February 15.