Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman was not happy with the reports that Babar Azam would be dropped from the 2nd and 3rd Tests against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the squad shortly after Fakhar Zaman’s tweet and informed fans of the massive decision that they had taken. Alongside Babar, the board dropped pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi as well.
Fakhar took the example of Virat Kohli and reminded the fans that India did not drop Virat Kohli in the three-year period when he was going through a terrible patch of form. Fakhar brought out Virat Kohli’s Test averages and stated that dropping Babar would give a negative message.
PAK vs ENG: Pakistan squad for 2nd and 3rd Tests
It’s concerning to hear suggestions about dropping Babar Azam. India didn’t bench Virat Kohli during his rough stretch between 2020 and 2023, when he averaged 19.33, 28.21, and 26.50, respectively. If we are considering sidelining our premier batsman, arguably the best Pakistan has ever produced, it could send a deeply negative message across the team. There is still time to avoid pressing the panic button; we should focus on safeguarding our key players rather than undermining them.
Babar Azam has been in a terrible patch of form, not only in Tests but in ODIs and T20Is as well. Babar has not been able to score a fifty in his last 18 innings in Test cricket and was woeful in the T20 World Cup 2024 as well.
In the previous match against England, Babar got out after being challenged on both his outside and inside edge and was not able to score big runs on an absolutely flat pitch in Multan.
Wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed has been also left out as he’s recovering from dengue fever. The four players have been replaced by Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam (all uncapped), fast bowler Mohammad Ali and off-spinner Sajid Khan. Noman Ali and Zahid Mehmood, who were initially part of the original first Test squad but were subsequently released, have also been included in the 16-player squad.
