Babar Azam struggles against net bowler ahead of ODI series

Imagine being one of the world’s top batsmen, and then getting out to a net bowler in practice. That’s exactly what happened to Babar Azam, the Pakistani captain, during a recent training session in New Zealand. The incident has gone viral on social media, with fans and critics alike weighing in on Azam’s form.

To put this into perspective, let’s look at Azam’s numbers. In 2025, he’s played six One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and scored just 149 runs, with only one half-century to his name. His Test form hasn’t been much better, with 184 runs in six innings at an average of 30.67. These aren’t the kind of stats you’d expect from one of the game’s top players.

A New Look Team

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a bold approach for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026. They’ve sent a new-look T20 team to New Zealand, with Salman Agha at the helm. The big surprise is that Azam, along with other senior players like Mohammad Rizwan, has been dropped from the T20 squad. This move has raised eyebrows, especially given Azam’s status as one of the world’s top T20 batsmen.

As it stands, Pakistan is trailing 1-2 in the five-match T20 series against New Zealand. The hosts won the first two games, but Pakistan bounced back with a big win in the third match, thanks to a century from Hasan Nawaz. The ODI series is set to start on March 29 in Napier, with the second and third matches scheduled for April 2 and 5, respectively.

It’s worth noting that Azam’s form has been a topic of discussion for a while now. As a key player for Pakistan, his performances will be crucial in the upcoming ODI series. Can he bounce back from this setback and lead his team to victory? Only time will tell.