Pakistan’s head coach, Jason Gillespie, has come forward to offer unwavering support to Babar Azam, who has been going through a rough patch. Once a mainstay in Pakistan’s batting line-up, Babar now finds himself out of the Test squad after a string of low scores this year.
Babar’s form in the longest format has been concerning, with the star batsman failing to score a Test fifty since December 2022, spanning 18 matches. His slump in form led to him being dropped for the second and third Tests against England, a move that seemed to benefit the team. Amid the mounting pressure, the 30-year-old also stepped down as Pakistan’s white-ball captain, further signalling the toll his form has taken on his career.
With limited support from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and his teammates, Gillespie has stood by Babar, calling him “one of the best in the world.” The head coach expressed confidence that the former captain will overcome this lean phase and return to his best.
Babar Azam is a fine player, and I think he’s one of the best players in the world,
Jason Gillespie said in an interview with Sky Sports.
He’s had a bit of a lean patch, but I don’t think there’s any great player out there who hasn’t faced such challenges. I’m very confident Babar will be back, scoring plenty of runs for Pakistan in all formats.
Despite his solid performances in white-ball cricket, Babar’s Test statistics have notably declined. His last Test fifty came almost two years ago against New Zealand, and he hasn’t delivered any match-defining performances since. His struggles were particularly evident during a series against Bangladesh, where he managed only 64 runs across four innings, and another poor showing in the first Test against England led to his exclusion from the remaining matches.
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As it stands, Babar’s place in the Test squad remains uncertain, with PCB selectors still undecided about his future in the format. However, Gillespie’s faith in the batsman suggests that Babar may yet have the opportunity to prove himself once again.
