Watch: Babar Azam smashes Shaheen Afridi for 21 runs in five balls ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

The former captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team and the opening batter of the side, Babar Azam, has returned home from after completing the campaign in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2025/26 for the Sydney Sixers, where he struggled to find form with only 202 runs in 11 innings at an average of 22.44 and a strike rate of 103.06 with two fifties on his name. 

Meanwhile, the left-arm pacer of the Pakistan side, Shaheen Shah Afridi, also returned home after completing his services in the BBL 2025/26 season for the Brisbane Heat. He was out of action way too early before Babar due to injury, as the players have started their preparation for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia.

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Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, these T20I encounters were vital to get the best shape of the Pakistan batters and bowlers, where they faced each other in an intra-squad practice session. The focus was on Babar facing Afridi as the video went viral on social media platforms.

Babar Azam smashes Shaheen Afridi for 21 runs in practice session

On the first delivery, Babar went down the ground and used his power to put Afridi into the empty stands for a massive six before drilling the low full toss over the covers for a beautiful delivery. The left-arm pacer went short at the right-handed batter, who seemed to be prepared for the tactic and pulled the pacer for another six.

Watch the video here: 

The fifth delivery was Shaheen changing his angle and coming round the wicket with Babar flicking the low full toss into the leg side for a boundary. The coaches, including Sajeed Ajmal, who was present during that over, were pretty happy with the aggression of Babar.

The 31-year-old has smashed 4429 runs overall in 129 innings at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 87.16, thanks to 20 centuries and 37 half-centuries at the best score of 158 runs. However, there are serious doubts over Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026.