In Pakistan, on April 7 — Ex-Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has appealed for backing for cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan amid challenging times for Pakistani cricket. He encourages supporters to offer balanced and helpful feedback instead of personal attacks towards the athletes. During an online discussion, Butt highlighted the significance of fostering a results-driven environment among the national squad members.

Butt emphasized that criticism ought to concentrate on helping players enhance their skills instead of turning into personal assaults. He remarked, "This isn’t specific to Babar and Rizwan; this could occur with any athlete globally." According to him, although evaluating a player’s performance is valid, such feedback needs to be constructive and aimed at fostering development.

Butt highlighted the importance of ongoing development from every player, including Babar and Rizwan. He emphasized that "it’s crucial to identify areas needing enhancement," even as he acknowledged their valuable contribution to the squad.

The comments follow a disheartening performance at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 for Pakistan, where they were eliminated during the group stage. Subsequently, Pakistan lost their T20I series against New Zealand with a score of 4-1 and faced a complete whitewash in ODI matches. Amid heightened scrutiny towards both teams, Butt’s statements seek to shift focus onto providing support and fostering growth as the squad gears up for upcoming competitions.