Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood has expressed strong support for star batter Babar Azam ahead of the upcoming Test series against England, starting October 7 in Multan.
Despite Babar’s recent struggles with form, Masood emphasized that he remains the team’s premier player and has faith in his ability to perform well.
In his last eight Tests, Babar has scored only 317 runs at an average of 21.13, failing to register a fifty, with his highest score being 41. This performance has raised concerns about his form.
Speaking at a press conference, Masood stated, “Babar is among the world’s best batters… He does not look out of form; he is getting starts.” He acknowledged the impact of a long gap between matches, specifically referring to a 10-month hiatus between Tests against Australia and Bangladesh, which may have affected Babar’s performance.
Babar showed resilience in the Champions Cup, where he scored 230 runs in four matches, averaging 76.66 with a strike rate close to 99. He recorded a century and a fifty, with his best score being 104 not out.
Masood also addressed concerns about team unity, asserting that there is no lack of effort among players. He stated, “Every captain has their own style… I have never seen a lack of unity or effort by the boys.”
While he acknowledges that there are areas for improvement in their cricketing performance, he remains positive about the team atmosphere and morale.
The series against England is crucial for Pakistan, not just for the ICC World Test Championship standings, where they currently sit eighth, but also for Babar’s individual form. The team is under pressure, having not won a home Test since February 2021, and they are coming off a 3-0 series loss to England in 2022.
The squad for the first Test includes:
- Shan Masood (c)
- Saud Shakeel (vc)
- Aamir Jamal
- Abdullah Shafique
- Abrar Ahmed
- Babar Azam
- Mir Hamza
- Mohammad Huraira
- Mohammad Rizwan
- Naseem Shah
- Noman Ali
- Saim Ayub
- Salman Ali Agha
- Sarfaraz Ahmed
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
As the team prepares for this pivotal series, all eyes will be on Babar Azam and his quest to regain his top form, while Shan Masood leads the side with hopes of turning around their home Test fortunes.
