Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s recent batting struggles have sparked widespread criticism, with his performance in the first Test against Bangladesh drawing particular scrutiny. Azam’s scores of 0 and 22 contributed to Pakistan’s dramatic batting collapse on the final day, resulting in a 10-wicket defeat.
The loss marked Bangladesh’s first-ever Test victory over Pakistan, prompting former captain Ramiz Raja to express his disappointment on his YouTube channel. Raja lamented the team’s inability to maintain consistency and questioned Azam’s form.
“It seems the entire country doesn’t have a problem with anything except the form of Babar Azam,” Raja said. “Cricket is in our blood, but I don’t know for how long if we continue to lose matches like this in Test cricket.”
Pakistan conceded a 117-run lead to Bangladesh in the first innings and were then bowled out for just 146 on day five, leaving the visitors with a mere 30 runs to chase for victory. Saud Shakel (141) and Mohammad Rizwan (171 not out) had earlier starred in Pakistan’s first-innings total of 448 for 6 declared.
However, Bangladesh’s veteran Mushfiqur Rahim’s epic 191 and contributions throughout the batting card helped the visitors post 565 all out in response.
Raja emphasized the importance of success in building fan following and acknowledged Azam’s past achievements. However, he also highlighted the intense scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile player in the era of social media.
“When you lose a match and you haven’t scored runs, and if you are Babar Azam, then you become a headline,” Raja said. “This is the era of social media, where anyone can criticize and ridicule anyone.”
Raja advised Azam to avoid social media, stay in the moment, and focus on his batting technique. He suggested that Azam work on his footwork, practice hook and pull shots, and play with a positive intent.
“Scoring runs is one thing, but is he happy with the way he is batting?” Raja asked. “The last innings he played, he was bowled off an inside-edge. It means your bat angles are not right, you lose your frame because you aren’t spending much time on the crease.”
Raja emphasized the importance of mental toughness and the need for Azam to forget past failures and focus on the present moment. He also stressed the critical role of character in overcoming adversity.
