Shan Masood Backs Babar Azam’s Future After Test Exclusion
In light of this challenging period, Masood emphasized that a break might be beneficial for Babar, allowing him to reset and refocus. “Sometimes, people need a break,” Masood said, noting that Babar's lengthy career has been demanding.
Following Babar Azam's recent drop from the Pakistan Test squad, captain Shan Masood has come out in support of the star batsman, expressing confidence that Babar will rebound from this setback. This decision to drop Babar sparked significant discussion, particularly given his status as one of the team's most prominent players.
During a discussion on the BBC's "Stumped" radio program, Masood underscored Babar's caliber, saying, “I think he's one of the best batsmen in the world. I'm nobody to say he doesn't have a future. He has every quality to be one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket.” Masood’s remarks highlight the expectations placed on Babar and his proven abilities, despite his recent struggles.
Babar's exclusion came on the heels of Pakistan's disappointing performance in the first Test of their series against England. His struggles at the crease were evident, having not scored a Test century since December 2022 and averaging just over 20 in his last 18 innings. The team management decided to make a change, bringing in Kamran Ghulam, who marked his debut with a century, filling the gap left by Babar in the batting order.
In light of this challenging period, Masood emphasized that a break might be beneficial for Babar, allowing him to reset and refocus. “Sometimes, people need a break,” Masood said, noting that Babar's lengthy career has been demanding. “There’s no harm in being pulled out at times and having a breather.” This perspective reflects a growing understanding within the cricketing world that even elite players require time away from the pressures of competitive play.
While Babar is currently absent from the Test side, he remains integral to Pakistan's plans in white-ball cricket. He is set to travel with the team to Australia for an upcoming ODI and T20I series, and he has opted to relinquish captaincy across formats to concentrate on his batting performance.
Masood reiterated Babar's importance to the team, saying, “He’s played a lot of cricket and gone through a lot, and he'll always be one of the main batsmen to play for Pakistan.” As the national side prepares for their three-match ODI series starting on November 4 in Melbourne, the hope is that this break will allow Babar to regain his form and contribute significantly to the team's success.
