Babar Azam‘s struggles with the bat continued, with fans and critics alike questioning the once unstoppable Pakistan captain
Babar’s innings came to an abrupt end when he fell to Shakib Al Hasan after just 31 runs in Rawalpindi on the second day of the 2nd Test against Bangladesh.
Another poor outing from the right-handed batsman adds to his worrying trend as Babar has now gone 15 innings in Test cricket without a wicket, leaving his critics questioning his place in the team.
The decline was severe enough to see Babar drop six places in the ICC Test batsmen’s rankings, intensifying scrutiny over his approach and form.
Salman Agha defends Babar Azam amid growing criticism over form
With each passing beat, the pressure builds and the chorus of criticism grows louder. However, the backlash, Pakistan comprehensive Salman Agha The struggling white-ball captain stepped forward to defend.
Salman Agha dismissed the criticism and urged fans and efforts not to forget what Babar had done for Pakistan cricket in the last five years.
Salman Agha reminded critics of Babar’s contribution to Pakistan and said it is important not to lose sight of it and to support him in this difficult time.
While Babar is now struggling, Salman Agha insists it is just a temporary dip in form and says critics should focus on other players in the Pakistan team who need to step up.
Salman Agha said at the press conference after the end of the 1st day of the second Test: “Babar Azam is a world-class player. As a cricketer you go through these phases. He has scored consistently over the past five years. Soon we will see him scoring big goals for Pakistan again.”
Salman Agha further said, “As a cricketer, there are phases in your life. There are 10 more players in the team; you have to pay attention to them. If he struggles, that’s fine. He will be back to scoring big goals soon.“
Bangladesh in trouble after slumping to 26/6 despite Miraz’s five-wicket run show
In the ongoing second and final Test match, Bangladeshi off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz put in an exceptional performance, claiming 5 wickets for a total of 61 runs, which was instrumental in restricting Pakistan to 274 runs in the first innings in Rawalpindi.
With this spell, Miraz registered his tenth five-wicket haul in Test cricket and underlined his importance in Bangladesh’s bowling attack. Tashkin Ahmed, who returned from injury, also made notable contributions, taking 3 wickets for 57 runs, while Nahid Rana and Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket apiece.
However, Bangladesh’s batting left a lot to be desired, with at least four catches falling, allowing Pakistan to post a respectable total. One of the most critical errors was when Shadman Islam missed Saud Shakil, which could have significantly affected the outcome of the match.
Bangladesh were in a tough spot on Day 3 as they lost six wickets for just 26 runs, currently trailing Pakistan by 238 runs, with Khurram Shahzad claiming four wickets and Mir Hamza taking two scalps before the tea break in Rawalpindi.
