In the world of cricket, few players command as much respect and expectations as Pakistan’s Babar Azam. However, the start of the Test series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on August 21, 2024, did not go as planned for the star batsman. After a dismal showing in the T20 World Cup, Pakistan was keen to reset the narrative with its red-ball cricket. But instead of a revival, the first match of the series brought with it a shocking turn of events as Babar Azam, the lynchpin of Pakistan’s batting order, was dismissed for a two-ball duck. The shock of his early exit sent a wave of uproar through the cricketing fraternity, prompting reactions from pundits and fans alike.
Babar’s form under scrutiny
Babar’s duck, his first in Test cricket on home soil, comes at a time when his performances in the longest format of the game are under intense scrutiny. In his last 12 innings, he has failed to score a half-century, averaging just 21 runs during this period. This drop in performance has led to his overall Test average falling to just over 45, a significant decline for a player of his calibre.
Despite Pakistan’s second-day comeback, where they reached 349/4, the talk continues to focus on Babar’s worrying trend in Test cricket. His dismissal against Bangladesh was not just a statistical blunder; it was a moment that underlined deeper problems with his technique and mental approach at the crease.
Basit Ali’s take: A habit gone wrong
Former Pakistan international Basit Ali was quick to point out what he believes is a technical flaw in Babar’s game. According to Ali, Babar’s habit of picking up the ball after every delivery in practice sessions has inadvertently conditioned him to play with every ball, even when he doesn’t need to.
“I had already pointed out that the nets in Pakistan are very close to the batsmen. If he leaves the ball, he has to go and pick it up and throw it to the bowler. That is why the habit has been formed of batsmen trying to hit every ball,” Basit explained on his YouTube channel.
Ali further criticised Babar’s technique of crawling along the stumps, a move that was intended to avoid getting caught in the slips but ultimately led to his downfall. “He moved a lot on the first ball he faced. He concentrates on batting on the outside stump to ensure he doesn’t get out in the slips. In the ball he bowled, you can see that the leg stump was visible. It’s incorrect technique,” Ali said.
Ramiz Raja’s perspective: lack of positive intent
Former Pakistan captain and seasoned commentator Ramiz Raja offered a different angle on Babar’s woes. Raja believes Babar’s current poor run is more down to mentality than technique. He criticised Babar for lacking the positive intent needed to succeed in Test cricket, especially given his reputation as one of the most talented batsmen in the world.
“Babar Azam is not scoring runs in Test cricket. He needs to show more positive intent because he is a great batsman. He needs to try not to play everything from his crease. Instead, try to be positive with his pace and spend time in the middle,” Ramiz stressed on his YouTube channel.
Raja’s assessment suggests Babar’s dismissal, particularly the leg-side choke, was less due to a technical fault and more to a hesitant approach that has crept into his game.
Kamran Akmal’s view: The middle order exposed
Adding to the chorus of concerns, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal highlighted how Babar’s lack of form exposes vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s middle order. Akmal noted that Babar’s shaky start against Bangladesh was a worrying sign, especially as the team relies heavily on him to stabilise the innings.
“Babar looked shaky straight away and he is the one who completes this batting line-up. The team looks up to him and trusts him to bail them out of trouble by leading the middle order,” Akmal said.
Akmal also echoed concerns about Babar’s technique, particularly his tendency to expose his stumps, which could be a significant disadvantage on seaming tracks.
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