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[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Should Babar Azam be dropped from the Test team?

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Xoib

ODI Debutant
Joined
Jun 19, 2007
Runs
8,931
If he fails to contribute on this tour.His test place is on thin ice with a string of low scores I personally feel we should not confuse the formats and drop him if he has another mediocre series even if he continues to build mountain of scores in limited overs cricket.
 
No, will be detrimental to his career and to his confidence. I may well be advocating for a bit of special pampering for Babar, but he's the only batsman we have that can potentially be such a mainstay in every format for over the next decade. Dropping Akmal from the test side when we did put him on the trajectory to being a failed LOI specialist - was that down to his character? absolutely, but you still face a similar risk with dropping Babar from the squad. I think a failed series justifies him dropping out of the XI, but you need to persist with him in the setup - all calls for dropping him to grind through the QeA trophy are OTT I feel.. We gave a long rope to Shafiq and Azhar when they started their career, Babar doesn't deserve less.
 
HuzaifaE said:
No, will be detrimental to his career and to his confidence. I may well be advocating for a bit of special pampering for Babar, but he's the only batsman we have that can potentially be such a mainstay in every format for over the next decade. Dropping Akmal from the test side when we did put him on the trajectory to being a failed LOI specialist - was that down to his character? absolutely, but you still face a similar risk with dropping Babar from the squad. I think a failed series justifies him dropping out of the XI, but you need to persist with him in the setup - all calls for dropping him to grind through the QeA trophy are OTT I feel.. We gave a long rope to Shafiq and Azhar when they started their career, Babar doesn't deserve less.
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Pretty much this. If he fails he can be relegated from the XI and stay on the bench for the time being. He does need to play more first class cricket though to learn the art of building an innings. County cricket would be ideal for that.

Backing him to come good in England though.
 
I am an umar akmal fan and the only reason akmal failed is that he was used lower fown the order in odis and made to turn into a finisher which completely ended his strokes. Compare akmal and babar test record and you will see that akmal outperformed babar in tougher conditions
 
Babar does not have a compact defense and that is why he fails, I think shahzad is a better test batsman than babar
 
Not yet! If he fails in Ireland, England and then in next series in the UAE. If he has 3 series fails continuously, he should be at bench or first class. He deserves a chance and I think he will not be a walking wicket. He would score 20-30s at least. So he deserves to be in the team for the next 3 series (away + home).
 
Unless there is another youngster waiting in the wings, u can't drop him. He has technical weaknesses and will need time to rectify those. The problem is that the same technique is fetching him runs in LOIs. Unless the management feels that it will impact him in LOIs, he should be given a rope for at least another year.
 
Personally, I think that ODIs is his niche, does not have the appropriate defence for Tests nor the acceleration for T20s. Should be persisted with in all formats for a while though.
 
Personally I think he is not a test standard batsman but giving him few more games won’t harm anybody. He should bat at 4 in all the tests

Playing XI
Azhar
Sami
Harris
Babar
Shafiq
Sarfraz
Shadab
Faheem
Hassan
Abbas
Amir
 
Needs to be persisted with - will become an ATG one day.
 
His play against spin is really poor which will hamper him at test level imo
 
I think if he continues to fail in test format, he needs to be dropped. He though has a good chance of establishing himself in the test line up in the upcoming tour to England.
 
I honestly dont understand what his issue is in the longer format....

In ODIs and T20s he has the sort of temperament that allows him to play consistent innings and make large scores.

So logic would state that that temperament would translate into some sort of test match ability.

However his stats suggest otherwise.

List A: 51 Average
ODI: 51 Average

t20s: 39 Average
T20Is: 53 Average

First Class: 34 Average (After 40 matches)
Tests: 23 Average

I understand when Younis Khan is very good at tests but below average in ODIs, because he has a strong temperament to play long innings but does not have the ability to play at higher strike rates required for modern day ODI batting.

I understand when players like Andre Russell are very good t20 players but arent good test players because they have hitting ability, but lack the temperament / technique for the longer format.

However I fail to understand how someone like Babar, who is the best of both worlds (has solid temperament/technique, and can play at okayish strike rates) can not perform in the longer format.

Is he an LOI specialist? or is it a Kohli-like case?, who wasnt that great in tests initially but eventually was able to adapt and perform.
 
Yeah. I think he can be blooded into the test team in time, he's still young. But it's hard to adapt to all three formats at the same time. He's already carrying our batting line up in LOI cricket.

If anything I think persisting with him in tests, and him failing again and again will damage his confidence.

We have both Usman and Saad Ali who are piling up the runs in domestic waiting for a chance.
 
blackanhyellow said:
I honestly dont understand what his issue is in the longer format....

In ODIs and T20s he has the sort of temperament that allows him to play consistent innings and make large scores.

So logic would state that that temperament would translate into some sort of test match ability.

However his stats suggest otherwise.

List A: 51 Average
ODI: 51 Average

t20s: 39 Average
T20Is: 53 Average

First Class: 34 Average (After 40 matches)
Tests: 23 Average

I understand when Younis Khan is very good at tests but below average in ODIs, because he has a strong temperament to play long innings but does not have the ability to play at higher strike rates required for modern day ODI batting.

I understand when players like Andre Russell are very good t20 players but arent good test players because they have hitting ability, but lack the temperament / technique for the longer format.

However I fail to understand how someone like Babar, who is the best of both worlds (has solid temperament/technique, and can play at okayish strike rates) can not perform in the longer format.

Is he an LOI specialist? or is it a Kohli-like case?, who wasnt that great in tests initially but eventually was able to adapt and perform.
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As deadball pointed above his defensive technique is found wanting against both pace and spin and in test cricket there are periods when you have to survive tough periods of play where you need to rely on your defensive technique ,Babar struggles in this regard.
 
Xoib said:
As deadball pointed above his defensive technique is found wanting against both pace and spin and in test cricket there are periods when you have to survive tough periods of play where you need to rely on your defensive technique ,Babar struggles in this regard.
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I honestly think it is something deeper than that.

Fakhar zaman has played 37 First Class matches, average 42. 6 centuries.

Babar has played 40 First Class matches, averages 35. 2 centuries.

They both also have similar averages in List A.

Fakhar has better defensive technique than Babar? Would you say his temperament is better? If not, how does he have a half decent First Class record?

Does Umar Akmal have a better defensive technique than Babar? Because he also has a much better First Class record than Babar.
 
blackanhyellow said:
I honestly think it is something deeper than that.

Fakhar zaman has played 37 First Class matches, average 42. 6 centuries.

Babar has played 40 First Class matches, averages 35. 2 centuries.

They both also have similar averages in List A.

Fakhar has better defensive technique than Babar? Would you say his temperament is better? If not, how does he have a half decent First Class record?

Does Umar Akmal have a better defensive technique than Babar? Because he also has a much better First Class record than Babar.
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I have analyzed Babar in quite detail for some time even in FC cricket he was averaging mid 20's after after 15-16 games with no centuries once he got his first hundred he became much more consistent now he is replicating the same pattern with his test career hopefully its more to do with a first hundred and once he gets he will not look back but I do believe his defensive technique against pace and spin needs massive improvement.
 
Players should be selected on basis of performance If Babaar cannot score , others must get opportunity. Right now he does not deserve a spot in Test XI .
 
babajee said:
Pretty much this. If he fails he can be relegated from the XI and stay on the bench for the time being. He does need to play more first class cricket though to learn the art of building an innings. County cricket would be ideal for that.

Backing him to come good in England though.
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There is actually nothing wrong with Babar.

Its a minor problem which Hazlewood exploited repeatedly in Australia.

I dont think everyone is Hazlewood so i expect Babar to do quite well.
 
Dr_Bassim said:
There is actually nothing wrong with Babar.

Its a minor problem which Hazlewood exploited repeatedly in Australia.

I dont think everyone is Hazlewood so i expect Babar to do quite well.
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He has to face Anderson and Broad in swinging conditions, that´s worse for him.
 
Dr_Bassim said:
There is actually nothing wrong with Babar.

Its a minor problem which Hazlewood exploited repeatedly in Australia.

I dont think everyone is Hazlewood so i expect Babar to do quite well.
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I just feel he goes into his shell in tests. Can’t get the balance between attack and defence.
 
Don't know why people want him to be dropped. He has all the qualities needed to be a good player in tests. He's technically sound, fit, and still young. Guy has potential and should be persisted with. He's proven himself in other formats and will do so in this one as well.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
Rahul1 said:
Oh dear. The over hyping of you guys knows no limits, does it?
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so there are over a dozen posts on thread being critical of the lad and you chose to focus on just one which suited your agenda.:viru
 
Stick with him in tests. Only way he can learn about test batting is in the middle . Playing in QEA could regress his game. Once he gets 1 big score, he'll become a consistent performer in tests.

Stick with him.
 
Dont think he merits a spot in starting X1 in tests right now, should be in sqaud but hes been a let down in test matches so far.
 
Not at all, even if he fails in England also. He is our best batsman and should be given as much time to settle down as possible.

He is the only one in Pakistan where we can say that we have also produced a world class batsman.

Hater's are going to hate but this guy is serious potential.
 
Playing Babar, Hasan Ali , Sadab in test will destroy their career. We should build separate teams based on players merit in those formats. Babar will fail in test and it will cause him failure in next 10 matches to adjust in ODI.
 
Shafi said:
Playing Babar, Hasan Ali , Sadab in test will destroy their career. We should build separate teams based on players merit in those formats. Babar will fail in test and it will cause him failure in next 10 matches to adjust in ODI.
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Yes, +faheem
they should try at least after world cup . Babar, Hasan Ali , Sadab,faheem all are our best player in odi and 20. test cricket and fc is not simple to compare one day and 20.
 
Shafi said:
Playing Babar, Hasan Ali , Sadab in test will destroy their career. We should build separate teams based on players merit in those formats. Babar will fail in test and it will cause him failure in next 10 matches to adjust in ODI.
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This.

All of them have game suited for limited format. And they have already proved themselves there. Tests require different skillset and not all players are suited for it.
 
Is Babar Azam's Test form a sign of deeper issues in Pakistan cricket? It's time to discuss what’s really happening. Can Babar bounce back, or is it time for change?
 
He will bounce back.
Remember one thing, class is forever.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If he continues poor form, he should be dropped. Nobody should take things for granted.

But, as of now, he shouldn't be dropped. Should get a few more chances.
 
He should be but he wont. Unfortunately Shan has proven himself to be nothing more than just a puppet of the nexus that has destroyed Pakistan cricket. Even Saud I don't trust anymore.

Pakistan cricket is officially dead, we had a chance to revive it after the 2024 world cup however it seems that both the board and the fans are content with us being humiliated as long as the Rizbar edits keep on churning
 
CerebralPatriot said:
He should be but he wont. Unfortunately Shan has proven himself to be nothing more than just a puppet of the nexus that has destroyed Pakistan cricket. Even Saud I don't trust anymore.

Pakistan cricket is officially dead, we had a chance to revive it after the 2024 world cup however it seems that both the board and the fans are content with us being humiliated as long as the Rizbar edits keep on churning
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Why are you surprised? Shan just happens to be from Karachi, he doesn’t represent the hard/gritted players of that region. Shan is mates with Haider Azhar, who is a big player behind the scenes promoting Rizwan and SNGPL rubbish
 
CerebralPatriot said:
He should be but he wont. Unfortunately Shan has proven himself to be nothing more than just a puppet of the nexus that has destroyed Pakistan cricket. Even Saud I don't trust anymore.

Pakistan cricket is officially dead, we had a chance to revive it after the 2024 world cup however it seems that both the board and the fans are content with us being humiliated as long as the Rizbar edits keep on churning
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Shan was never even from Karachi bro? He just has a karachi origin. That doesn't make a larachi born and bred.

The dude was born in Kuwait, Studied in UK. Spent years in their school, Even studied from durham for 3 years?

He even played fc for Durham University?

It's not the same as being born and bred in Karachi and actually having the karachi king spirit.

This is why I told you Shan isn't gonna be any different.

Sarfraz and Shan are not comparable by any means, and even then Sarfraz is extremely extremely patriotic for his country even for a karachi born and bred star.

It's extremely extremely extremely rare to find a gem who only plays for his country and doesn't give 2 damns about himself for pakistan again.
 
Rana said:
Why are you surprised? Shan just happens to be from Karachi, he doesn’t represent the hard/gritted players of that region. Shan is mates with Haider Azhar, who is a big player behind the scenes promoting Rizwan and SNGPL rubbish
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Is Shan represented it, He just like shaheen would not be captaining.
 
Yet another failure for Babar. Should PCB be serious now??

WHat is left to think about??
 
Height of injustice that Babar keeps on playing in the test xi without any credible performances. His first class record is also rubbish.

On the other hand, Usman Salahuddin and Kamran Ghulam average 50 plus and have toiled hard in domestic cricket for so long without any chances.
 
It's a little late now for Salahuddin as he's around 35. His time for a test debut was in 2011-12 but instead they debuted him in the wrong format as they always do to their players.

Kamran Ghulam can be a no.5 maybe but with Saud and Agha in the middle, that will require Shan and Babar to be dropped or one of the openers having Shan to open and then having Babar at 3 and then slotting Kamran in.
 
But but but we have no Bradmans, Viv Richards and Pontings in our domestics to take his spot!!!!


That’s what these besharams have been claiming for years!!!

Now keep Babar Azam going for the next 2 decades!
 
Babar needs to focus on upcoming domestic seasons instead of playing international cricket. for god sake stop calling him match winner
 
In a scathing critique on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali expressed his disappointment:

"I'm feeling very disappointed that it seems as if you’ve forgotten how to bat, or have the Bangladesh bowlers cast some magic on you, or is it the pitch that’s done the trick? Aap log toh bade bade Bradman ho na (You all are supposed to be big Bradmans, right?) ICC No. 1 Babar Azam. He got a life when a catch was dropped, but then Nahid Rana chased Babar down with his pace. When he got out, it looked like he didn’t even expect the ball to come back like that."
 
The question definitely has to be asked, especially if he also fails in the next game. But the reality is that he's become untouchable and nothing will happen
 
Most runs in losing cause in World Test Championship:

1411 - Joe Root (40 Inns)
1284 - Litton Das (35 Inns)
1086 - Mohammad Rizwan (28 Inns)
1084 - Babar Azam (26 Inns)
932 - Mushfiqur Rahim (26 Inns)
 
And this guy was supposed to be among the Fab 4 replacing Kohli :ROFLMAO:
 
No I don’t think so. This guy has been our main batsmen in all formats since he debuted and has performed for around 7 years straight. We don’t have any player that has been that consistent for that long. Last year or two he’s going through a bad patch. But that is what it likely is. I don’t think sending him back to domestic is going to help at this point.

He should just be left alone, no pressure and just let him naturally rediscover form. Giving him back captaincy was a bonehead move which didn’t help when he was struggling with form too.

I know people are frustrated and are right to be. But for most of the other positions we are trying to work out if they are even international material at all, let alone what sort of form they are in.

Babar needs to give up captaincy and opening. That alone and he can truly concentrate on batting, I reckon you’ll see a revival of form.
 
Nah, he is not really a top class test batsman due to inability to score runs outside of home but he is not bad at home.

At home, he has averaed 65.

No need to drop him from the test team.

He should be dropped from T20 team for sure because he is hopeless in that format.
 
Babar Azam avg 45 in tests and if you omit Zimbabwe and make him nozimbabar he avgs 46..how can you drop such a batsman?..if he needs a break to clear his head, go to domestic to get some form back than it's ok
 
The current lot is pathetic, we need to axe all these players, sooner the better.. build a new team with no egos and toxic politics...

And we need to stop over-hyping Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi.. they are pathetic players...
 
usman.sandhu said:
The current lot is pathetic, we need to axe all these players, sooner the better.. build a new team with no egos and toxic politics...

And we need to stop over-hyping Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi.. they are pathetic players...
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Rizwan also
 
Rana said:
Rizwan also
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When you're asking for Rizwan to be dropped, either you have some personal issue with him or you don't understand the basics of cricket. He has been the only consistently performing batter from Pakistan lately.

Yes , Babar deserves to be dropped , that might do wonders for him and the team in the long run.
 
moghul said:
When you're asking for Rizwan to be dropped, either you have some personal issue with him or you don't understand the basics of cricket. He has been the only consistently performing batter from Pakistan lately.

Yes , Babar deserves to be dropped , that might do wonders for him and the team in the long run.
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You are correct. We should give him all format captaincy, and allow him complete control of pcb affairs.

Look bro rizwan is consistent, but the problems lie much much deeper then elementary chopping and changing that people are suggesting.

Here are the reasons why we are in a rut.

No 1: Leaving UAE

Pakistan's best players emerged from 2016 psl, Even hafeez improved massively, Our test cricket was sky high cause the players knew how to play test and were giving slow sluggish spin wickets to play.

Leaving uae has damaged Pakistan as youngsters in domestic play on phatta wickets, psl is a joke with substandard international players representing us. Leaving UAE did more damage to pakistan then good. These pitches are woefully easy which is why Pakistani batters lack the technique, timing, footwork and execution to deal qith international bowlers overseas or heck even international players outperform them in their own den.

No 2: No merit system

Travis head got dropped on end by finch and warner cause he use to suck, he was forced to become the best opener in Australia. And aaussies would drop him in a heartbeat the moment they find someone bwtter which motivates him to inprove.

Heck their telling Warner to not come back since he's washed up for ct 2025.

However In Pakistan you have silver Spooner in Shan, Imam etc etc abrar is leagues > any spinner in pakistan atm but he's sitting out lol.

Theirs no competiton to improve. Unlike Australia which is forced to, aka be the best or be dropped by someone better, Pakistan players have zero motivation, The only motivation they have is to make friends with people in power like the captain or management and you are safe.

Someone like azam khan would never ever play cricket under any circumstances in top tier countries but in pakistan because he's the son of Moin Kham he gets free passes.

Rizwan for better or worse represents this crapola system. Things like " Mein khush nahi hoon no 5 pei" and then just getting no 4 is exactly what's wrong aith pakistan cricket.

Until and unless proper pitches are curated and theirs an actual competitive environment, nothing will improve. You cannot expect to become world class if you breed silver Spooners sorry.
 
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