Before the much-anticipated PSL 2025 season opener, Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam and his teammates were caught enjoying a hearty biriyani spread. While the food was part of a team-building dinner hosted by Javed Afridi on April 12, many fans took to social media to express their concern.
As Zalmi prepared to face off against Quetta Gladiators, the photos of the players indulging in the sumptuous feast quickly went viral. Fans were particularly upset to see Babar and the team eating such a heavy meal before an important match. With fitness being a hot topic in Pakistani cricket, many supporters questioned the team’s preparation, expressing disbelief at the players’ apparent disregard for their physical conditioning.
The trolling reached its peak on X, where fans voiced their frustrations, accusing both the PCB and the franchises of neglecting fitness standards. According to them, this was one of the reasons why Pakistani cricketers often struggle with maintaining fitness.
Interestingly, Babar Azam had already been in the spotlight before the PSL 2025 season kicked off. A recent altercation between Babar and a journalist added fuel to the fire. When questioned about his silence during Pakistan’s cricketing issues, Babar didn’t hold back, firmly responding to the journalist:
“Jaha mujhe bolna hoga, waha main bolta hu. Aur main media pe baithke nahi bolunga ki kya karna hoga. Mujhe jaha jo bolna hota hain main kamre ke andar bol deta hu. Main yaha aake dhindora nahi pitunga ki social media me ye honi chahiye, ye meri job nahi hain.”
This strong statement from Babar reaffirmed his stance of keeping certain matters behind closed doors, away from the public eye.
As the 2025 PSL progresses, Babar Azam will be hoping to use the tournament to regain his spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup, making every match a crucial step towards his ultimate goal.
