'He is in the team just to complete the XI': Memes gallore over Babar Azam's eternal wait in dugout

During Pakistan’s Group A clash against Namibia at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo, batter Babar Azam faced trolls online after not being sent in to bat. Despite being one of Pakistan’s leading run-scorers, Babar has struggled for form in the tournament, prompting fans on X and other platforms to question his impact.

Originally selected to anchor the innings at number four, Babar had failed to perform that role effectively against the Netherlands and India. Against Namibia, Pakistan’s management, including coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha, opted to send more aggressive batters ahead of him. Even after the loss of skipper Agha in the 13th over, Khawaja Nafay was promoted while Babar remained on the sidelines.

Online reactions were swift. One fan asked, "Babar Azam ko team puri krny ke liay khilaya gaya hai?" while another suggested, "I think babar azam is promoted as finisher." Memes also circulated widely. One user quipped, “Babar Azam didn't come out to bat. Smith once denied him a single. Today his own team denied him the crease.” Another mocked him by posting a photo of the former skipper waiting, captioning it, “Babar Azam waiting for his batting turn.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan cruised to a comfortable 102-run victory, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s scintillating maiden hundred and a disciplined bowling display, securing their place in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup.(With inputs from Agencies)