In the recent Test series against Bangladesh, the performance of the Pakistan cricket team has been far from satisfactory, and it has been particularly disheartening for their captain, Babar Azam. During the second Test being held in Rawalpindi, Babar failed to make an impact with the bat yet again. After struggling in the first innings, he was dismissed for just 11 runs in the second innings, marking yet another disappointing outing. Notably, he was dismissed by young Bangladeshi fast bowler Naheed Rana, who was playing just his third Test match. This latest failure has spurred significant questions around Babar Azam’s form.
Babar’s Ongoing Struggles: 16 Consecutive Failures
The scrutiny on Babar Azam is understandable given his alarming form; he has now failed to cross fifty runs in his last 16 Test innings. To put this into perspective, his batting average during this stretch has dropped to a concerning 20.68, with a total of just 331 runs, where his highest score in these innings has been a mere 41. The lack of significant contributions from the captain has inevitably raised concerns for the Pakistani batting lineup.
Performance Breakdown Against Bangladesh
Examining Babar Azam’s performance against Bangladesh provides more insight into his struggles. He had a disastrous start to the series, going scoreless in his very first innings, failing to open his account after facing just two deliveries. In the first Test, his second innings saw him score only 22 runs, followed by a slightly better but still disappointing 31 runs in the first innings of the second Test, and yet another low score of 11 runs in the second innings. His repeated failures have not only impacted his personal statistics but have also weighed heavily on Pakistan’s chances in this series, as they lost the first Test and now face potential defeat in the second Test as well.
Babar’s Recent Test Series Performance
Babar Azam’s struggle isn’t a one-off incident; it goes back over his last three Test series. In the series against Sri Lanka, he could manage only 76 runs across two Tests, resulting in a batting average of 25.33. During the tour of Australia, things did not improve as he managed just 126 runs in three Tests at an average of 21. His performance in the ongoing series against Bangladesh has been equally disappointing, where he has averaged a mere 16 with only 64 runs across two Tests. When looking at his overall performance in the World Test Championship, Babar has averaged just 20.46, scoring a total of 266 runs—numbers that do not reflect his caliber as a player.
Table: Babar Azam’s Recent Test Performance
| Opponent | Matches | Runs Scored | Average | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 2 | 76 | 25.33 | 49 |
| Australia | 3 | 126 | 21.00 | 36 |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 64 | 16.00 | 31 |
| Total (Recent Series) | 266 | 20.46 | 41 |
Conclusion
As Babar Azam continues to face an uphill battle with his form, it is pertinent for him to rediscover his touch at the crease. The pressure is mounting not only from fans but also within the team and management, who are counting on their captain to lead by example. Moving forward, it will be crucial for Babar to regain his confidence and consistency to help steer Pakistan back to challenging for victories in upcoming series.
