Former Pakistan Skipper Reveals Reasons Behind Babar Azam’s Poor Form

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has offered insights into why star batter Babar Azam is recently facing increased scrutiny after the first Bangladesh Test.

In a recent interview with a local sports channel, Butt pinpointed two key factors contributing to the pressure on Azam.

According to Butt, Azam’s consistent performance over the past decade has ironically led to heightened expectations that are proving difficult to meet, particularly in a team that heavily relies on him.

“There are two reasons why Babar is under fire,” Butt explained. “He’s undoubtedly Pakistan’s best batter and the most consistent player of the decade. But, the issue is that when other players were out of form, others could still win matches. Now, Babar is often the sole contributor, and when he doesn’t perform, it’s glaring.”

Butt further criticized the team’s player development strategy, highlighting a shift towards power-hitting at the expense of technical skills.

He argued that this shift in approach has left Azam isolated as the only player capable of consistently delivering match-winning performances.

“Pakistan’s over-dependence on Babar has become a problem,” Butt said. “The day he doesn’t score, it’s almost certain the team won’t win.

This results from focusing too much on power-hitting rather than developing well-rounded players with solid techniques.”

Azam’s recent struggles in the Test series against Bangladesh, where he managed only 22 runs in the first Test and 31 in the second, have only added to the mounting pressure on the captain.