Yes it's frustrating isn't it? The best brains don't have the best talent and the best talent don't have the best brains. Babar though seems like one player who has both as well as time on his side. He is already delivering in ODIs, but I think we need to be a bit more patient with him in Tests. Dropping him now will be a terrible idea.
Dropping Babar would be a horrible idea. He was brought in for the first time in the right way, at the right time. Many players have had their slow starts and come good. Sanga and recently Smith come to mind. Over time, I have moved from numbers to really true batting technique and the long term implications of it. Don't get me wrong, there is merit in both, but if you have an on and off game, can play with a straight bat, and can read the ball, that will translate more internationally than a 50 average in List A or First class, and those who do not have those and succeed in international cricket are the exceptions (Dilshan for example).
My fear, as has been my fear with every player coming up, is this superstar mentality without anything/very little to back it up.
If walking down the street and getting recognition means you stop working hard and simply have hubris, then I do not want those players on my team.
Kohli for example usually, not always, points to himself and his flaws and is constantly honing and working on his game. I feel our players do not have that sort of work ethic, and that is a systemic issue. I feel bad for our coach and any blame on him. He does not really have a true free reign to do as he pleases. It is always the board who dictates his teachings, or the players who are rock stars in their minds and do as they please. When you already have a bad lot, and the ones you are forced to pick as they are begrudgingly your best, your hands are tied.
No coach can make talent out of no talent. You can groom that which is already there at the age of 18-19, but you cannot make a nobody a somebody, that again, comes at the grass roots level.
You know better than I obviously (as I am not there) the issues with domestic cricket. Until we fix that, we won't find a diamond in the rough. Cricket in my opinion is dying in Pakistan due to talent simply heading other ways due to nepotism and cronyism. If you are talented, but know chances of making it are slim to none, the best bet is simply head in other directions to make your family have food on the table.
This systemic problem will not go away any time soon and our team is a reflection of our nation. Stubborn, head in the sky, disappointing due to so much promise, and yet always falling flat. The 80s-90s, and this has nothing to do with IK, were the growing period for Pakistan and our cricket flourished in tandem with the nation. It is sad that such a beautiful nation has been put in such a place that people look on it and shudder.
I know I'm having a bit of an aside from the original point of Babar, but I guess I am just sad looking at the state of our nation. It was growing, it is beautiful, and it has so much potential, and yet it is simply seen as a regressing nation that people are to fear going to.
