Once celebrated as Pakistan’s batting maestro and a fixture atop the ICC rankings across formats, Babar Azam now finds himself at a crossroads. With no international century in the last 43 months, the right-hander has struggled to rediscover the rhythm that once earned him the title of “King Babar.”
Babar’s recent omission from the T20 squad during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand marked a turning point in his career. It was the first time since his international debut in 2015 that he was dropped purely on the basis of poor form. While fans and critics have grown impatient, several former players have stepped up to offer advice and support.
Legendary batter Zaheer Abbas, often referred to as the “Asian Bradman,” suggested that Babar may be hesitant to seek help from senior players. “Either he has an ego issue or he is too shy to ask for advice,” Zaheer said. Drawing on a past example, he recalled Indian great Azharuddin consulting him during a rough patch and making significant improvements after a minor technical adjustment.
Zaheer also pointed out a key technical flaw in Babar’s stance. “He used to have a more open stance, but now it’s quite closed, which gives him little time to adjust to the ball’s pace. His recent dismissals show that he’s rushing into shots.”
Former captain and renowned analyst Rashid Latif emphasized the psychological pressure Babar is facing. “When under pressure, a player must find ways to adapt, but Babar has not managed that. The lack of a strong mentor or batting coach in the dressing room is also hurting him. He has to evolve and find his own solutions.”
Former Test player Shoaib Mohammad, son of legendary Hanif Mohammad, shared a tactical angle. He believes opposing teams have figured out Babar’s go-to shots, including his cover drive and pull, and are exploiting his weaknesses, particularly against spin.
“Babar looks frustrated when he doesn’t find boundaries. Instead of trying too hard, he should focus on rotating strikes and spending more time at the crease,” Shoaib advised. He also noted that the pressure of living up to the “King Babar” tag might be taking a toll on the star batter’s mental state.
“In fact, he recently asked fans not to call him ‘king’—a sign he is burdened by expectations. A cricket psychologist might help him reset mentally and regain his form.”
