Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas believes Babar Azam needs to set aside his ego and seek guidance from seniors to regain his form.
Zaheer Abbas Urges Babar Azam to Seek Senior Advice to Overcome Poor Form
Babar Azam’s struggle with form has stretched for over two years, with his last international century coming more than two years ago. The once-dominant figure in the ICC Rankings across formats is now facing a rough patch, which has also negatively impacted Pakistan’s performances. Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas believes that must shed his ego and seek guidance from senior players to regain his confidence and form.
Babar’s struggles are evident in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he has managed only one run in two matches. Pakistan’s recent international cricket results have been disappointing, including a whitewash in the ODI series against New Zealand and a failure to reach the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.
Zaheer Abbas shared a personal anecdote about former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin, who sought his advice during a tough phase in 1989-90. Abbas believes should follow suit and consult his seniors to overcome his current challenges.
Speaking to Cricket Pakistan, Zaheer said, “I have this impression that either Babar has an ego issue or is too shy to seek advice from his seniors in overcoming his current situation.” He continued, “I vividly recall how Azharuddin had sought guidance from me on India’s tour to Pakistan in 1989-90. He was struggling to find runs, and I advised him to change his batting grip. That really helped him regain confidence and improve his performance.”
‘He is not finding time’
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas believes that Babar Azam is struggling with his batting due to his stance at the crease. Abbas observed that Babar’s recent dismissals show signs of him rushing into his shots, which suggests that he is not finding enough time to adjust to the pace of the ball.
“I have noticed that Babar’s dismissals of late have had him hurriedly going into his shots, which clearly shows he is not finding time to adjust at the crease,” Zaheer explained.
In another twist, Salman Iqbal, the owner of Karachi Kings, revealed a controversial reason behind Babar Azam’s departure from the franchise. Iqbal claimed that Babar refused to bat at number three, which led the team to make the decision to let him go during the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Babar Azam had represented Karachi Kings for six years, playing a key role in their title win in 2020.