Pakistan head coach and team manager Mohammad Hafeez expressed his support for Babar Azam who is currently going through a rough patch. Mohammad Hafeez mentioned that Babar Azam can regain his confidence in international cricket with a “great” innings.
Babar Azam faced batting problems during the three-match Test series against Australia, unable to register even a half-century. The right-handed batsman concluded the red-ball series with a total of 126 runs in six innings and a disappointing average of 21.
The 29-year-old recorded scores of 21, 14, 1, 41, 26 and 23 in the recent series. Azam will return to action during the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The T20I series gives Babar a chance to recover and regain his form.
We are always for Babar Azam – Mohammad Hafeez
Speaking after the third Test match against Australia, Mohamed Hafeez expressed the coaching staff’s willingness to help Babar Azam, highlighting the importance of the individual’s willingness to seek help.
“If Babar Azam needs help with his technique, any tactical or mental help, we are always available for him. It is up to the individual to be willing to ask for help.” Mohammad Hafeez said.
“A great tackle will restore your confidence. Red ball cricket brings sophistication to the game. “A red ball cricketer can play all formats.” he added.
The Pakistan team suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the third and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The hosts claimed their third consecutive victory in the series, while the visitors once again failed to claim their first Test victory in Australia in 28 years.
Team management should advise Babar Azam to take a break – Mushtaq Ahmed
Former Pakistan player Mushtaq Ahmed recently advised Babar Azam to take a temporary break from cricket to rejuvenate himself amid his struggles. Mushtaq cited Virat Kohli’s successful return to international cricket after a brief break as an example.
“All over the world we offer training and when we realize that a player has a mental disorder, we give him a break of 2 or 3 games. When Virat Kohli was not fit, he took a break and since then, he has not faced the same problems. The management should have taken the responsibility and advised Babar to rest.” Mushtaq said.
“Babar has given outstanding performances and is our hero. He is considered one of the best players in the world. However, he faced challenges like losing the Asian Cup and the World Cup, and subsequently losing the captaincy amidst rumors and difficulties. Often in our culture we don’t realize the need to take breaks. If I was there, I would have suggested giving Babar some rest.” Mushtaq added.
Virat Kohli took a break ahead of the 2023 Asia Cup, which played a pivotal role in getting the star batsman back to his best form. Kohli smashed a century against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and carried his excellent form into the 2023 ODI World Cup, emerging as the leading run-scorer.
The 35-year-old scored a record 765 runs at an impressive average of 95.63, in three centuries and six half-centuries. He scored 172 runs in the two-match Test series against South Africa, demonstrating his prowess even in challenging conditions for batsmen.
Also read: AUS vs PAK: “Shaheen Afridi did not rest because…” – Mohammad Hafeez reacts to Pacer’s absence in the Sydney test
