Pakistan cricket team Test captain Babar Azam continues to struggle with a prolonged slump in form that refuses to leave him behind. The situation has deteriorated to the point where he is failing to score runs even within the domestic circuit. After a gap of seven long years, Babar stepped out to play a first-class match on the domestic circuit, but his return was cut short as he managed only 12 runs before getting dismissed.
Struggles during the England tour
During the recent tour of England, Babar proved entirely ineffective with the bat. Across four innings in England, he could accumulate only 104 runs in total. In the opening three innings, he even failed to cross the double-digit mark. Although he mounted a strong response by playing an innings of 76 runs in the final match, he was completely undone by a novice bowler's bouncer back in his own home conditions. The dismissal was captured in a video written on X by Usman, showing the moment of his departure.
Fan intrusion disrupts concentration
A massive crowd of supporters had gathered at the venue to watch Babar make his long-awaited return to domestic red-ball cricket. As he walked out to the middle to bat, a fan suddenly breached security and rushed onto the field, causing considerable chaos. The interruption forced a brief stoppage in play. Shortly after this incident, Babar lost his wicket to a sharp bouncer.
Intensifying criticism over poor form
Babar has faced severe criticism due to his prolonged lean patch during the England tour. Several former Pakistan cricketers have questioned his leadership capabilities as well. The tour witnessed dramatic developments, including the sudden recall of seven players from the Pakistan squad and the sacking of coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, which brought embarrassment to the setup. Throughout these tumultuous events, Babar appeared completely sidelined in his capacity as captain. This backdrop contributed heavily to Pakistan suffering a humiliating 3-0 whitewash at the hands of England on foreign soil.
