Overview
- Akmal posted on X that he did not intend to demean or compare himself with Babar Azam, saying his point was that Azam is not a natural T20 middle‑order batter and calling the collage a fan repost.
- He had shared an Instagram story juxtaposing his 94 off 54 against Australia at the 2014 T20 World Cup with Azam’s 25 off 24 against England in the Super 8s, which was widely read as a trolling comparison.
- Pakistani fans criticized Akmal’s public jab, calling it unprofessional and unnecessary during an ongoing tournament.
- Azam’s strike‑rate came under renewed scrutiny in coverage noting he now has the lowest T20 World Cup strike rate among batters with 500+ runs, reported at about 111.5.
- In the England loss that set off the debate, Pakistan made 164/9 as Azam scored 25 off 24, and their semifinal prospects now hinge on England vs New Zealand on Feb 27 and a Pakistan win over Sri Lanka on Feb 28.