New Delhi: Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood has backed star batter Babar Azam to comeback strongly in the Test arena amid a barren run with the bat.
The former captain was rested during Pakistan’s recent Test triumph against England at home.
After Pakistan’s humiliating Test defeat to England in the first match in Multan, Pakistan selectors made massive changes to the squad with the likes of Babar, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah rested from the second and third Test.
Babar was dismissed for 30 and 5 runs, respectively, in the first Test in Multan. This continued his dismal run with the bat, having not scored a fifty-plus margin in his last 18 Test innings. Since 2023, the 30-year-old has scored 352 runs in 17 innings at an abysmal average of 20.70.
Nonetheless, Shan Masood has shown his support to his predecessor to comeback back in good shape after the break.
“I think he’s one of the best batsmen in the world. I’m nobody to deny him a future. He has every quality to be one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket,” Shan Masood told BBC’s stumped podcast.
“He’s always near the top in the rankings. Sometimes, people just need a break. Personally, I think this break will benefit him greatly, and he’ll come back a stronger player.
“There’s no harm in being pulled out at times and having a breather. He’s played a lot of cricket and gone through a lot, and he’ll always be one of the main batsmen to play for Pakistan,” the Pakistan Test captain added.
Ramiz Raja points out what’s stopping Babar Azam
Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja is of the opinion that Babar has to work on his mental aspect more than technical flaws when he returns to the red-ball format.
“I think it’s more about his temperament in Test cricket. When his form slumps, it takes him longer to make a comeback in red-ball cricket compared to white-ball,” Ramiz told reporters.
“Technically, he doesn’t stay still against balls pitched on a back-of-a-length, so he needs to be a bit more side-on. Lately, he’s been getting out caught behind to balls moving away. He also has some struggles against spin,” he added.
Pakistan will play their next Test series against South Africa in late December. The first match of the two-Test series will start on December 26 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.