Umar Akmal Claims He Helped Babar Azam Overcome Spin Troubles

Pakistan cricket has never been short on intriguing narratives, and Umar Akmal seems to have an endless supply of stories about his former teammates. His latest claim? That ex-national captain (and cousin) Babar Azam once sought his help to overcome struggles against spin.

Speaking on a local TV show, Umar confidently stated that he was the one who guided Babar through his persistent issues against slower bowlers.

“I remember clearly that he was struggling against spinners. He was getting out at midwicket, so he came to me and said, ‘Umar bhai, I’m struggling a little,’” Umar Akmal recalled. “I asked him about his bat grip and advised that when the spinner approaches, he should change his grip and watch the ball until the halfway point. Then he could either cut it or hit it in a way that wouldn’t be flat.”

“Babar Azam was struggling against spin, so he approached me for help. I guided him technically to resolve the issue.”

Umar Akaml ⤵️

https://t.co/PrdPSwDOp6

— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) March 17, 2025

How much of an impact Umar Akmal’s advice actually had on Babar’s batting is anyone’s guess. While Babar was once prolific against spin, his struggles against slower bowlers have only grown in recent years, often resulting in dismissals while attempting cross-batted shots. If anything, Umar’s coaching—assuming it happened—doesn’t seem to have done him many favors resulting in Babar getting out 108 times in 277 innings to spinners across the three formats.

The relationship between the two has long been described as frosty. Umar Akmal has openly criticized Babar’s leadership in the past, accusing him of favoritism in selection matters. As always, separating fact from fiction in Pakistan cricket isn’t easy. Whether Umar Akmal’s latest claim holds any weight or is just another entertaining soundbite, fans will be waiting for the next revelation from his never-ending archive of stories.