Babar Azam Dropped as Pakistan Makes Major Changes

Pakistan is making significant adjustments to its squad ahead of the second Test against England, with Babar Azam being the most notable omission. Two days after suffering an innings defeat to England in Multan, the newly formed selection committee recommended dropping Babar, who has been struggling for form. The decision came after discussions in Lahore, followed by another meeting in Multan, attended by the selection committee, chairman Mohsin Naqvi, and five mentors appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Though publicly supported by captain Shan Masood, who labeled Babar "Pakistan's best batter" and advocated for giving players more time, the selection panel ultimately decided that Babar would benefit from taking a break. Test coach Jason Gillespie echoed Masood's sentiments for continuity, but behind closed doors, the selectors agreed that Babar's ongoing struggle to score runs required time away from the national team. Babar has not recorded a half-century in Test cricket since December 2022.

The revamped selection committee includes Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, and analyst Hassan Cheema, along with the captain and coach for the format being discussed. However, it was reported that neither Masood nor Gillespie were part of the meeting when Babar's exclusion was decided. Some mentors initially supported keeping Babar in the squad, but the majority agreed on his omission. It remains unclear whether Babar will make himself available for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, which begins on October 20. Babar hasn’t played in the tournament since 2019.

Babar’s recent struggles with the bat have intensified scrutiny, especially following his underwhelming performance against England in the first Test, where he managed only 35 runs across two innings on a relatively flat pitch. His dry spell now stretches to 18 innings without a half-century, and only four Pakistan specialist batters have endured longer runs without crossing the 50-run mark. Since the beginning of 2023, Babar’s Test average has dipped below 21 across nine matches.

In addition to his batting woes, Babar’s leadership has faced challenges. After Pakistan's early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup, he reluctantly stepped down as captain in all formats. Just four months later, he was reinstated as T20I and ODI captain, replacing Shaheen Afridi after just one series. However, Babar’s second tenure as captain was short-lived, with Pakistan winning only one of three T20I series and exiting the 2024 T20 World Cup in the first round after losses to the USA and India. Six months after being reappointed, Babar stepped down once again, citing a desire to focus solely on his batting.

Babar’s omission isn’t the only change anticipated for the second Test. Abrar Ahmed, currently hospitalised, is unlikely to recover in time. Selectors are reportedly considering other spin options, with Noman Ali and Sajid Khan under consideration. Shaheen Afridi, who has struggled to regain his form after a knee injury, might also sit out the second Test, having missed games in each of Pakistan’s previous two series.

Despite Babar's current challenges, his exclusion is expected to cause a stir among fans. He remains Pakistan’s most prominent cricket star, with a massive personal following separate from the national team. While his captaincy had been a topic of debate, his place in the squad had always been secure until now. Between November 2019 and the end of 2022, Babar was among the world’s best Test batters, averaging just under 62 in 25 matches, scoring eight centuries and 15 half-centuries.

The second Test against England begins on October 15 in Multan. England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, handing Pakistan their sixth consecutive Test defeat and leaving them at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings.