Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam has been facing a prolonged batting slump, raising concerns among fans and experts. Despite his struggles, Pakistan’s Test coach Jason Gillespie has expressed unwavering support for Azam, believing that the right-hander is on the cusp of a resurgence.
Azam’s struggles began after the ODI World Cup in India last year. He briefly relinquished the captaincy but resumed leadership in the white-ball format ahead of the T20 World Cup. However, his batting form has remained elusive, leading to criticism from fans and former players.
In the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh, Azam has managed only 64 runs in four innings. This has intensified the scrutiny on his form, with many questioning his ability to lead Pakistan’s batting lineup.
Despite the criticism, Gillespie remains confident in Azam’s abilities. “Babar is a quality player. He is a world-class player. He is very close. I feel it. I am confident that we are going to see Babar scoring some big runs very soon,” Gillespie said after the end of Day 4.
Gillespie believes that Azam is not far from rediscovering his prolific scoring ability. “He probably hasn’t converted the start he has got,” Gillespie added.
Azam’s struggles have coincided with a challenging period for Pakistan’s cricket team. After a series whitewash in Australia, Pakistan’s batting lineup was exposed as vulnerable. Azam’s poor form in England and the T20 World Cup further highlighted the team’s batting woes.
Pakistan will face England in a Test series next, and the pressure will be on Azam to deliver. The team will rely heavily on its premier batsman to make impactful contributions and guide Pakistan to victory.
