Watch: Babar Azam turns chef for Eid amid injury controversy

Originally posted on Crictoday | Last updated Mar 22, 2026 3:25 AM ET

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam swapped cricket gear for cooking on Eid-ul-Fitr, sharing a video of himself preparing food at home. The 31-year-old was seen making seviyan and sheer khurma, showing his supporters a glimpse of his off-field activities.

The light-hearted moment comes amid reports of him being unfit during the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. According to media houses in Pakistan, Babar and Fakhar Zaman were carrying injuries and raised questions on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s fitness parameters.

Babar Azam showcasing his cooking skills for Eid al-Fitr. ✨ pic.twitter.com/OhSqGri1ye
— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) March 21, 2026

Former pacer and the current national selector Aaqib Javed raised concerns during a press conference and urged PCB to investigate the matter.

Javed, who was present alongside Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafique, revealed that Babar and Fakhar were not fit and the selectors were informed about the situation after the tournament.

The issue was highlighted by Dr Javed Mughal, who is a sports physiotherapy and medicine expert. He is the director of PCB’s sports exercise, and medicine board. Dr Mughal informed the officials about the fitness of the top two players.

In four innings of the World Cup, Babar scored 91 runs at an average of 22.75 and a strike rate of 112.34, leading to massive flak at home.

Since Pakistan’s elimination from the global tournament, Babar hasn’t played cricket. He was dropped from the ODI team for the series against Bangladesh, and the selectors gave chances to six uncapped players. Babar didn’t compete in the National T20 Cup 2026.

PCB medical board and the selectors haven’t provided any update on his recovery. He is expected to lead the Peshawar Zalmi in the upcoming Pakistan Super League 2026.

This article first appeared on Crictoday and was syndicated with permission.

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