The Pakistan cricket team's early exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 has sparked more than just on-field disappointment—it's ignited a fiery debate off the pitch. The tension between current players and former legends has reached a boiling point, and now captain Babar Azam is stepping in to call for unity.

The drama began when Pakistan fell to India in Colombo, prompting former stars Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Yousuf to publicly demand all-rounder Shadab Khan be dropped. Shadab fired back, questioning their credentials by noting neither had been part of a Pakistan team that beat India in a World Cup. The exchange escalated quickly, with both Afridi and Yousuf returning fire, exposing a growing rift between generations of Pakistan cricket.

Now, two months later, Babar Azam has broken his silence. Speaking while leading Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League 2026, the captain urged balance and mutual respect. "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," Babar said on Zalmi TV. "Shadab said something in the heat of the moment. Everyone has their own way of speaking."

Babar acknowledged that such public spats only hurt the team's morale. "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 these are the times of social media—you cannot stop anyone."

The controversy isn't new. Shadab had previously reignited the debate by referencing Pakistan's 2021 T20 World Cup win over India during a match against Namibia, drawing fresh criticism from former players. While Babar respects the experience of past greats, he's calling for restraint. "There is no comparison," he emphasized, urging both sides to focus on what matters most: lifting the Pakistan team together.