Peshawar Zalmi skipper and veteran Pakistani batter Babar Azam has recently picked a world-best ODI XI and has not picked a single Indian player. He ignored the likes of renowned Indian batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, while also sidelining the likes of Jasprit Bumrah.
Currently, the T20 fever has been taking over the world of cricket, but soon after the franchise leagues end, the teams across the world will shift their focus to the longer format of white-ball cricket. Every team would be preparing for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
With Babar Azam, the legendary Pakistan batter, leading his team, Peshawar Zalmi, to the finals of this edition of the PSL, he was with Zalmi media for a video session and was asked to pick the best World ODI XI as per his opinion.
Babar Azam picks 0 Indians in ODI World XI
Shockingly enough, the former Pakistan skipper did not pick two of the greatest ODI cricketers of the modern generation, only because they are players of Indian origin. The bias seemed to be at the forefront.
Babar Azam left out the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the two greatest white-ball cricketers in the world, as he picked Mitchell Marsh at the top of the order and then placed Aiden Markram in the no. 3 position. He also snubbed Jasprit Bumrah from a spot and instead picked his Pakistani teammate to be paired alongside South African great Kagiso Rabada and English fast bowler Jofra Archer.
Babar Azam’s ODI XI: Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Aiden Markram, Mohammad Rizwan, Rachin Ravindra, Harry Brook, Mitchell Santner, Rashid Khan, Jofra Archer, Shaheen Afridi, Kagiso Rabada.
Babar Azam makes a joke of himself after 12th man role in World ODI XI
However, leaving out the Indian players did not seem that much of an insult as he did to himself by not picking himself in the playing eleven. Instead, he picked himself as the 12th man in an ODI XI.
Though this might be out of humility that he did not pick himself, it seemed that he was underconfident of his recent form in international cricket and performance in ICC tournaments and hence decided not to be part of his own ODI XI.
Instead he picked Mohammad Rizwan, the wicket-keeper batter and his batting teammate in the XI, as he slotted him in the middle order alongside the likes of Rachin Ravindra and Harry Brook.
Babar Azam’s Peshawar Zalmi eyes first PSL title as captain
Babar Azam has been part of the Pakistan Super League for many seasons, and he has played for the Peshawar Zalmi for the most part of his career. However, he has never won a PSL title with the franchise.
Zalmi reaching the finals would be eyeing their second title, and Babar Azam would be eyeing his first as the captain of the Peshawar Zalmi side. He has also amassed 500+ runs and is closing in on 600 runs in this season’s PSL. They will be taking on Hyderabad Kingsmen, the debutant side in the finals.
