Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has advised Pakistan’s Babar Azam to prioritize domestic cricket and focus on improving his fitness and mental resilience. Sehwag’s comments come after Azam’s recent struggles in international cricket, which culminated in his omission from the final two Tests against England.
Despite facing criticism, Azam displayed resilience in the second Test, scoring a gritty 118 against a formidable English bowling attack. However, Sehwag believes that Azam needs to address his mental and physical well-being.
“Babar Azam should play domestic cricket now. He should work on his fitness, spend some time with family, then come back to international cricket as a physically fitter and mentally stronger player,” Sehwag said.
Sehwag emphasized that Azam’s mental state has been significantly affected by the pressure and expectations placed upon him. “With expectations from Babar decreasing and his resignation from captaincy, it seems he has been more impacted mentally than in terms of technique. He needs to stay mentally strong. He’s a talented player, and players like him tend to bounce back quickly,” he added.
While Azam’s absence from the Test team raised eyebrows, Pakistan’s spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan proved their worth, taking all 20 wickets in the second Test. Sajid’s 7/111 in the first innings and Noman’s 8/46 in the second innings played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s 125-run victory, leveling the series at 1-1.
The series decider will be played in Rawalpindi from October 24, with both teams aiming to secure a series victory.
