Babar Azam, Pakistan’s white-ball captain, has been facing a significant decline in his performance across all formats, attracting heavy criticism. Former cricketer Salman Butt, however, has come to Babar’s defense, urging fans to give him more time. He highlighted Babar’s past success, noting that his previous high run-scoring seasons have set expectations too high.
Butt explained that Babar’s consistency over the past decade has made him Pakistan’s top batter, but this also creates pressure when he doesn’t perform. He stated that when other players struggled, Babar’s consistency stood out, but now when he’s not scoring, it feels more noticeable due to his previous success.
Read more: Babar Azam Falls Out of ICC Top 10 Test Player Rankings
Babar’s recent form has been disappointing, with no half-centuries in his last 14 innings and an average of just 22, far below his usual standards. Despite this, Butt believes the expectations may be too high given his past achievements.
In the ongoing second Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan’s poor form has persisted. The team scored just 274 in the first innings and is struggling with six wickets down at 114 in the second innings, leading by only 126 runs.
With strong players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan on the Bangladesh side, Pakistan must push hard to avoid a loss or draw. If the match ends in a draw, Bangladesh will win the series, making it a disappointing outcome for Pakistan.
