In an explosive revelation that has cast a shadow over Pakistan‘s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 qualification, a former national great has finally broken his silence on the toxic internal politics that led to his high-profile resignation. The legendary batter, who previously served as a national selector, disclosed that his departure was not ‘voluntary’ as initially reported, but a direct consequence of a failed attempt to drop Babar Azam. The great alleged that his professional assessment of Babar’s prolonged slump was met with such aggressive resistance from team decision-makers that he felt staying in the role was a compromise of his integrity.
Former Pakistan legend links resignation to Babar Azam
The former selector and iconic batter Mohammad Yousuf explained that his exit was a protest against a refusal to acknowledge a clear technical decline in Babar. Yousuf disclosed that while he identified the former captain as a liability due to a three-year-long slump, the decision-makers within the PCB and team management were unwilling to bench the star. Recounting the backlash he faced for suggesting a much-needed rest for the batter, who has managed just 66 runs in three matches this tournament, Yousuf stated in ‘How Does it Work’ podcast:
“I’ve been saying this for 2-3 years that Babar’s technique has gone for a toss. I’ve been hearing that he is out-of-form, but he is not. A player can only be out-of-form for two to three series and he has not scored runs for the past two-three years. The moment I suggested resting Babar, everyone suddenly turned against me. I had to resign because of this. He was eventually dropped a couple of series later. What has happened to him today is because of the same people who doubted me.”
“I had to resign because of Babar Azam. The moment I suggested resting him, the entire environment changed and everyone turned against me.”
~ Mohammad Yousuf
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) February 19, 2026
Skill over ‘Churan’: Pakistan great blunt assessment of Babar’s batting
In a stinging dismissal of modern coaching buzzwords, Yousuf dismantled the narrative that Babar’s struggles are purely psychological. He labeled the constant focus on ‘mindset’ as a misleading sales pitch, referring to it as ‘churan’ and emphasized that no amount of mental strength can compensate for broken batting mechanics. When asked to place Babar among the pantheon of icons like Inzamam-ul-Haq or Saeed Anwar, Yousuf was uncompromising in his verdict, claiming there is no comparison:
“The churan of mindset is being sold very wrongly. Until you don’t have the skill, the mind can’t do anything. If you don’t have the skill, what will the mind do? Inzy Bhai and Saeed Bhai’s level can’t be matched. They can’t be matched. They were very big players. Zaheer Abbas… These four players were of different categories and levels. Babar is nothing in front of them.” Yusuf concluded.
This scathing assessment highlights a growing rift between Pakistan’s legendary predecessors and the current leadership. With the 807-day drought between ODI centuries still a major talking point, Yousuf insists that the evidence of decline is undeniable. As Pakistan moves into the Super 8s, these comments ensure that every ball Babar faces will be scrutinized through the lens of a ‘deteriorated technique.’
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