Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam faced heavy criticism from former cricketer Basit Ali following his underwhelming performance in the first Test against Bangladesh. The match, which saw Bangladesh claim a historic 10-wicket victory, marked their first-ever Test win over Pakistan, ending a long streak of 12 losses and one draw.
Babar, often hailed as one of the world’s top batsmen, failed to impress in the match, scoring a duck in the first innings and a slow 22 off 50 balls in the second. His struggles were a major contributing factor to Pakistan’s batting collapse, which ultimately led to their defeat.
In a scathing critique on his YouTube channel, Basit expressed his disappointment, questioning Babar’s form and suggesting a possible lack of focus or a decline in his batting ability. He highlighted the fact that Babar received a life when a catch was dropped but failed to capitalize on it, eventually being dismissed by a well-executed delivery.
Pakistan’s batting woes extended beyond Babar’s struggles, with the entire team struggling to adapt to the challenging conditions. The pitch, deteriorating with uneven bounce, contributed to their difficulties. Their decision to omit a frontline spinner further hampered their performance.
Bangladesh’s spin duo of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan proved instrumental in dismantling the Pakistani batting line-up in the second innings, further emphasizing the importance of a balanced bowling attack.
The defeat raises significant concerns for Pakistan, who have recently faced struggles in Test cricket on home soil. With the second and final Test of the series looming, the pressure is on Babar and the team to bounce back and avoid an embarrassing series defeat.
