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“He Was Not Ready To Change…” Karachi Kings Owner Explains Why Babar Azam Was Released

Aakash Saini

Babar Azam during a training session [Source: @BabarAzam_152/x]Babar Azam during a training session [Source: @BabarAzam_152/x]

Babar Azam is plying his trade for the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in the ongoing PSL 2025 season, as a captain and as a senior opening batter. Notably, the legendary Pakistani batter spent six seasons with the Karachi Kings franchise, from the 2017 edition of the tournament up until 2022. However, the Kings decided to let go of Babar, prompting the Peshawar Zalmi to snap up the services of the cricketer.

In a recent interview, Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal has finally revealed the exact reason as to why the franchise decided to release Babar at the peak of his batting career ahead of the PSL 2023 season.

Karachi Kings owner explains Babar’s release

In a candid interview, Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal stated that the franchise decided to let go of Babar Azam over a disagreement in the batting position. Iqbal alleged that the franchise wanted Babar to bat at number three instead, however, the Pakistani batting start was not willing to compromise over his position as an opener. Salman Iqbal said:

“We wanted him to bat at number three, but he was not ready to change his role.”

Babar Azam has spent a majority of his playing career as an opener in PSL cricket, as well as in international cricket for Pakistan. However, his recent form with the bat has come under the scanner, considering the right-handed batter failed to come up clutch for Pakistan in the ODI tri-series at home and at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year.

Moreover, even in the ongoing PSL 2025 season, Babar Azam has managed just a solitary run from two innings as a Peshawar Zalmi opener, doing so at a dismal average of 0.50.

It is worth noting that Babar played a key role for the Karachi Kings franchise during their lone PSL-winning campaign back in 2020. The cricketer compiled 473 runs in the tournament in just 11 innings, and even cracked a match-winning 63* in the final.