Pakistan’s star batsman, Babar Azam, has been facing a challenging period with the bat, sparking discussions and analysis from fans and experts alike. His recent performances have been below his usual high standards, particularly in the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. However, amidst the scrutiny, Pakistan’s Test coach, Jason Gillespie, has expressed unwavering support for Azam, highlighting his belief in the batsman’s ability to bounce back.
Babar Azam, a pivotal figure in Pakistan cricket, has encountered a period of inconsistency since the ODI World Cup in India last year. This included a temporary step down from captaincy, which he later resumed in the white-ball format ahead of the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Despite facing criticism from both fans and former national players for his underwhelming scores in the Bangladesh series, Gillespie remains optimistic about Azam’s potential for a turnaround.
“Babar is a quality player. He is a world-class player. He is very close. I feel it. I am confident that we are going to see Babar scoring some big runs very soon. He probably hasn’t converted the start he has got,” Gillespie said after the end of Day 4 of the ongoing Test match against Bangladesh.
The scrutiny surrounding Babar’s form intensified after Pakistan’s challenging tour of Australia, where the team faced a series whitewash. This tour exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s batting lineup, with Babar being one of the players who faced criticism. Although he accumulated 126 runs in the three-Test series, his average of 21 highlighted his struggles. These struggles continued into the subsequent tour of England for a T20I series and the T20 World Cup.
In the current series against Bangladesh, Babar has managed only 64 runs over four innings, further fueling concerns about his form. However, Gillespie’s confidence in Azam remains unwavering, and there is high anticipation for Babar to rediscover his prolific scoring ability in the forthcoming series against England. Pakistan will be relying on its premier batsman to deliver impactful contributions and guide the team to success.
