Salman Ali Agha’s Pakistan endured a disappointing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, failing to reach the semi-finals. But the struggles were not limited to performances on the field. Off it, tensions between current players and former cricketers came into sharp focus, with Shadab Khan at the centre of a major controversy.Following Pakistan’s loss to India in Colombo, former stars Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf publicly called for Shadab to be dropped. The all-rounder responded strongly, questioning their credentials by pointing out that they had not been part of a Pakistan team that defeated India in a World Cup.The exchange quickly escalated, with both Afridi and Yousuf hitting back at Shadab’s remarks. The episode highlighted a growing divide within Pakistan cricket, where criticism from former players often turns personal, drawing responses from those currently in the setup.Now, two months on, Babar Azam has weighed in, calling for balance and mutual respect. Speaking while leading Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League 2026, Babar backed Shadab’s right to respond.“When they speak about things, it’s right, but if the current player has said something, it’s not right. Anyway, it’s a different ball game. Shadab said something in the heat of the moment. Everyone has their own way of speaking,” Babar said on Zalmi TV.He stressed that such exchanges only harm the team environment. “But in the end, you are just fighting among yourselves. There should be an effort to support the Pakistan team. Yes, we didn’t do well in the T20 World Cup. We know we didn’t perform well. But yes, I accept that. But these are the times of social media, you cannot stop anyone.”Shadab had earlier reignited the debate after referencing Pakistan’s 2021 T20 World Cup win over India during a game against Namibia, again drawing criticism from former players. Babar acknowledged the experience of past greats but urged restraint.“There is no comparison. If you talk about the 90s cricketers, they are very experienced. They have played more cricket. If they think we are making mistakes, then we must be. But sometimes, there are personal attacks. When that happens, a player thinks about answering back,” he said.“You can say anything you want to when it comes to cricket. But players also have self-respect. When you don’t respect them, you also will get the same,” he added.Amid the debate, Babar has been in outstanding form in PSL 2026, leading the run charts with 588 runs in 10 matches at an average of 84 and a strike rate of 146.27. His side, Peshawar Zalmi, will now face Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final on May 3.