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Test captain Shan Masood of Pakistan expressed confidence in star batsman Babar Azam’s performance during the home Test series against England, stating that he does not appear to be out of form and remains the team’s top batsman.
The series, which begins on October 7 with the first Test in Multan, will be significant for Pakistan in terms of the form of their best batter as well as the ICC World Test Championship. Babar’s performance in the last eight Test matches has been below average; he has amassed 317 runs at an average of 21.13, with no fifty to his credit. His highest rating is 41.
Speaking ahead of the series in a press conference, Masood was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo, “Babar is among the world’s best batters. You have to give your players time, not just Babar. Babar does not look out of form, he is getting starts. There was a 10-month gap between the Australia and Bangladesh Tests, which does not help us.”
“He played some long innings in the Champions [One-Day] Cup where he absorbed pressure and changed gears. That might help him in tests now. He is the team’s number one batter for sure,” he added.
Babar amassed 230 runs at an average of 76.66 and a strike rate of nearly 99 in four games played in the 50-over Champions Cup in Pakistan. He also got a century and a fifty. His highest rating was 104*. He was the Stallions’ fourth-leading scorer in runs scored.
Pakistan’s series loss against Bangladesh at home has dropped them to eighth place in the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 standings.
The team captained by Shan Masood is under pressure going into the first Test against England because they haven’t won a home Test since February 2021. Pakistan have not won a home Test match in their last 10 attempts, which includes a 3-0 series loss to England in 2022.