Babar Azam has been struggling for form in recent months, and his absence from Pakistan’s ongoing tour of Bangladesh has now sparked fresh debate. Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed recently revealed that the star batter is currently dealing with an injury, which prevented him from travelling with the squad and participating in domestic cricket.
Babar was notably missing from the ODI squad for the ongoing three-match series against the Bangladesh national cricket team and also did not feature in the National T20 Cup 2026.
Aaqib Javed Explains Babar Azam’s Absence
Speaking to reporters during a press interaction, Aaqib Javed revealed that Babar had picked up an injury during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
“Babar Azam faced an injury during the T20 World Cup. When he came back from Sri Lanka, our doctors had a look at him. His injury is preventing him from playing in the National T20. He wanted to play, but the injury is not letting him do so,” Javed said.
The revelation has surprised many fans because earlier statements from Pakistan team management suggested a different reason for Babar’s absence.
Conflicting Statements From Team Management
Previously, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson and captain Shaheen Afridi had said that Babar was “rested” for the Bangladesh ODI series to allow younger players an opportunity.
However, Javed’s comments indicating that Babar is currently injured have created confusion among fans, as the explanations appear to contradict each other.
Tough T20 World Cup Campaign for Babar
Babar endured a difficult tournament in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The former Pakistan captain managed just 91 runs in four innings, struggling to find consistency with the bat.
In one of the tournament’s most surprising moments, Babar did not even get the chance to bat against Namibia national cricket team, as Shadab Khan and Khawaja Nafay were promoted ahead of him in the batting order. He was later dropped from the playing XI against Sri Lanka national cricket team.
Pakistan eventually crashed out of the tournament in the Super 8 stage after losing a crucial match to England national cricket team.
Pakistan Missed Semi-Final Spot in Dramatic Fashion
Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals also included several dramatic moments. Their match against New Zealand national cricket team was washed out due to rain.
Later, Pakistan needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs while defending a target of 213 to qualify for the semi-finals. However, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka played a stunning knock of 76 off just 31 balls*, which ensured Pakistan failed to progress further in the tournament.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh ODI Series Levelled
Meanwhile, Pakistan are currently involved in a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh. The series is tied at 1–1, with the decider scheduled to be played in Dhaka.
Pakistan faced heavy criticism after losing the opening match but bounced back strongly in the second game, registering a 128-run victory via the DLS method to level the series.
With questions surrounding Babar Azam’s form and fitness, fans will be keen to see when the star batter returns to action and whether he can rediscover the consistency that once made him one of the world’s most reliable run-scorers.
