Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir has come out in support of former national team captain Babar Azam, who is facing backlash after Pakistan’s long-awaited Test win at home.

“Please stop with these petty claims that we won because Babar wasn’t in the team,” he said in a post on X after criticism against the former skipper following Kamran Ghulam’s ton. “We succeeded due to a better strategy and the advantage of playing on home ground.”

In the second Test against England, the Pakistan Cricket Board made notable changes, including dropping Babar Azam, along with star fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

Azam has struggled to score over fifty runs in Test cricket since December 2022.

In his absence, Pakistan achieved their first home Test victory since February 2021, defeating England by 152 runs at the Multan International Cricket Stadium, largely due to a formidable spin attack.

Ghulam, who stepped in for Azam, impressed with a century on his debut, intensifying social media criticism that Pakistan only triumphed after dropping the star batter.

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This backlash led Mohammad Amir, who has been critical of Azam in the past, to defend him.

He urged fans to engage in constructive discussions about player performances rather than resorting to personal attacks.

“Criticize their performance, but please avoid personal remarks,” he emphasized, calling for a supportive atmosphere for athletes.