Babar Azam’s continued struggles with the bat are not hidden from anyone, but his cousin and former member of the Pakistan cricket team, Umar Akmal, seems to have figured out a way to get him back to his best. Umar, who recently came out in strong support of Babar amidst growing pressure on the former Pakistan captain, offered a candid recommendation: let go of leadership duties in the PSL and take time off from all formats to rediscover his peak batting form.
In a rare public statement that combined both empathy and hard truth, Akmal used his YouTube platform to defend Babar’s credentials while urging him to take a strategic pause from cricket. “Yes, he’s not in the best of touch right now, but let’s not forget who we’re talking about,” Akmal said. “Babar Azam is still Pakistan’s premier batsman—one rough patch doesn’t erase five years of excellence.”
Umar Akmal’s message wasn’t just about protecting Babar Azam from scrutiny; it was a call for recalibration. He suggested that the 30-year-old batter hold direct conversations with Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to formally request a two-month sabbatical from all formats.
“Step away from the game. Spend time with your family. No cricket, just train in peace. When he returns, he will be refreshed and back in form,” Akmal said.
The comments from Umar Akmal are significant not just because of who they’re about, but also because of who’s saying them. Akmal, himself a cautionary tale of unfulfilled potential, appears to speak from personal experience—of what pressure, mismanagement, and timing can do to a player’s rhythm.
He is also not alone in making these recommendations. Babar Azam’s struggles with the bat have continued longer than anyone would have thought. Dropping him from the Test squads, trying him as an opener in ODIs, and removing him from the T20I side have not worked at all, and maybe an extended break away from the game is exactly what he needs to become the Babar of old.
With still plenty of cricket left in him, Akmal’s voice offers sage advice: take a step back to take a leap forward.
Whether Babar takes the advice to heart or not, the message is clear: Pakistan needs its best batter back at his best. And perhaps, as Umar Akmal suggests, the road back begins with walking away—if only for a while.