Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar issued a warning to star batter Babar Azam regarding his future with the Men in Green in ODI and T20I format.

Akhtar believes that in order to secure his place in Pakistan's white-ball set-up, Babar will have to give some match-winning performances in the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

If the batter isn't able to fulfill the expectations laid upon him this time, then Akhtar believes that the path ahead is going to be difficult for him.

'He is our star player and has my backing but with the new management and the new thinking, he will have to show performances. Otherwise, he will not be considered for ODIs and T20Is. Babar needs to be at his best in the Champions Trophy. He will have to score three match-winning hundreds; otherwise, the path is going to be difficult for him,' Akhtar told PTV Sports.

The Men in Green are currently on a tour to Zimbabwe where they have already secure a 2-1 victory in the ODI series and have also won the first T20I. Babar has been rested for the whole series and his next assignment will come in the form of South Africa. Pakistan is set to play 2 Tests, 3 T20Is and ODIs each in their tour to South Africa which will commence from December 10.

Babar was recently replaced by Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan's white-vball skipper. The former was reintegrated into Pakistan's white-ball set-up with the Australia series last month. Though Pakistan did triumph over the Baggy Greens by 2-1 in the ODI series, Babar's problems didn't get fully resolved as he scored just 47 runs in the T20Is and 80 runs in the ODI series.

Babar's last ODI ton came against Nepal in 2023 while in T20Is, he last registered a half-century earlier this year. However, it is in red-ball cricket where good scores have really dried up for Babar as his last ton in Tests came back in 2022 against New Zealand.