Pakistan white-ball captain Babar Azam’s ongoing struggle with form has set the stage for high-stakes drama in the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which begins on August 21 in Rawalpindi.

Babar is currently in the spotlight as he battles a significant drought. Reacting to Babar’s form, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt said that the elegant right-hander, who is known for his explosive batting and consistent run-scoring, is now facing increasing pressure and the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh will be very crucial for him.

Salman Butt warns of pressure on Babar Azam as Pakistan prepare to face Bangladesh in crucial Test series

Azam’s recent performances, both as a batsman and captain, have been disappointing. His last century came against Nepal in August 2023, raising questions and fuelling speculation about his future. His recent drought has not only affected his individual stats but has also cast a shadow over his white-ball captaincy.

Many have advised Babar to step down from the Pakistan captaincy and focus solely on his batting as he has the potential and talent to become one of the legends of the modern era. Moreover, the Men in Green have also struggled to deliver results, and even he has failed to bowl a big innings, which has created a perfect storm of scrutiny.

Despite his proven ability to dominate across formats, Babar’s recent lack of impactful scores has intensified the pressure, according to the former Pakistan captain. However, Butt is confident that Azam will overcome this challenging phase and regain his position as one of the world’s best batsmen.

There is definitely pressure on Babar: Butt

The cricket pundit also admitted that Babar faces immense pressure to deliver against Bangladesh in the home Tests but mentioned that he has the ability to return to his dominant form and write the next chapter of his illustrious career, having put in some excellent performances in the past.

Salman Butt said on his YouTube channel: “Yes, absolutely. Personally, as a player who has been scoring runs consistently, and considering that he hasn’t had a great innings in a while, and with questions about his captaincy, there is definitely pressure on him. But who better to handle the pressure than him? This player has had some excellent performances, so he knows well how to get back into form.”

Salman Butt dismisses Babar Azam-Virat Kohli comparison amid Pakistan captain’s form crisis

During the conversation, the Pakistani journalist mentioned that even if you know what to do, when you are not fit or your mindset is disturbed, things become difficult. It doesn’t matter who you are. He added that they saw this happen to Virat Kohli as well.

However, Butt was quick to correct the Pakistani journalist saying that Babar cannot be compared to Kohli. Later, the journalist clarified that he had no intention of comparing them and was just using the example to show that even great players can face form issues.

Butt agreed with his perspective. Notably, Kohli struggled to score runs for over two years before making a remarkable comeback across all three formats of the game. However, the Indian batting maestro has now fallen into a slump again, failing to score big in the 2024 T20 World Cup and then in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka.