Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has backed star batter Babar Azam to bounce back strongly. The 30-year-old batter was left out of the Test squad for the last two Tests against England at home.
Babar has had a poor run in Test cricket over the last couple of years. He averages a mere 20.70 in nine Tests with a highest of 41. In six innings at home this season, he got just 99 runs. The former Pakistan skipper has made 808 runs in 26 innings while averaging 32.32 in international cricket in 2024. In addition to that, he resigned as the white-ball captain and has been replaced by Mohammad Rizwan.
However, Babar has got the backing of the Test captain Masood who termed him as ‘one of the best batsmen in the world’. Moreover, he believes the break could do him a world of good.
“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. He’s always there or thereabouts in the rankings. Sometimes, people need a break. I think this break will do him a great deal of benefit and he’ll come back a stronger player. There’s no harm in being pulled out at times and having a breather. 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,” Shan Masood was quoted saying in the BBC Stumped radio programme.
Babar is a part of the ODI squad which will face Australia in a three-match series down under. He will look to regain some touch before the Test series against South Africa. The last time Babar played in South Africa was back in 2018-19 when he was Pakistan’s second-highest run-getter with 221 runs at an average of 36.83. He launched a superb counter-attack against Dale Steyn on that tour.
Masood wants to credit team for success against England
Pakistan won their first Test series at home since February 2021 when they beat England 2-1 recently. It was also their first Test series win in more than 15 months. This was Masood’s first Test series win as a captain while it was also coach Jason Gillespie’s first success as head coach. However, Masood is more focused on the team rather than crediting certain individuals.
“People in Pakistan are quick to give success to individuals. To make one person a hero. I think it’s always going to be a collective thing. I’d rather pass credit onto everyone else; it was a collective decision,” Masood added.
