Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas said that Babar Azam either had an ego issue or is maybe too shy to seek advice from former players who can help him get out of his current lean run. Babar, one hailed in the same breath as Virat Kohli, has been on the receiving end of tremendous criticism for the past few months due to his form with his last international hundred coming in the Asia Cup in 2023.
“I think either Babar has an ego issue or is too shy to seek advice from his seniors in overcoming his current situation,” Zaheer said.
“I think in 2016 Younis Khan spoke to Muhammad Azharuddin and went on to score a double hundred in England. I also 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 told him to change his batting grip. Saeed Anwar sought Sunil Gavaskar’s advice.” He felt that Babar’s stance at the crease is a rather close one today compared to a more open stance before, and he has little time to adjust himself to the pace of the ball. I think because of this he is struggling to time his shots and is getting out early,” he added.
Babar hasn’t been in good form for his Pakistan Super League side Peshawar Zalmi as well, scoring just 1 and 0 in the two matches he has played.
During the Champions Trophy back in February, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar had called Babar a “fraud” and said he has been a fraud from the beginning. This was after the former Pakistan captain couldn’t make an impact with the bat against India, with the Men in Green ultimately losing the match by 6 wickets.
“We always compare Babar Azam to Virat Kohli. Now tell me who is hero of Virat Kohli? Sachin Tendulkar and he has scored 100 centuries and Virat is chasing his legacy,” Shoaib Akhtar had said on the show “Game On Hai.”
Hosts Pakistan were ultimately eliminated from the Champions Trophy without a win to their name with Babar getting dropped from the Pakistan T20I side in the following series vs New Zealand.
