Babar Azam Told To Skip Domestic Cricket In Concerning Verdict By Pakistan Great: "Listen Now"

Mohammad Yousuf has urged star batter Babar Azam to avoid a return to first-class cricket.© AFP

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has urged star batter Babar Azam to avoid a return to first-class cricket following his struggles in the recently concluded ODI tri-series. Pakistan's Test captain ended the tournament with just 118 runs in five matches at an average of 23.60 and a strike rate of 74.21. While Shaheen Afridi confirmed that Babar will play for Lahore Whites in the opening round of the 2026-27 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Yousuf urged him to skip the fixture.

Yousuf instead suggested that Babar should resort to specialised coaching in the UK or Australia to address concerns over his technical flaws. He also pointed out that playing domestic cricket could expose those flaws even further.

"I don't think Babar Azam should be playing first-class cricket until he fixes his technical issues through specialised coaching. Struggling in domestic cricket could further harm his confidence and career. Send him to an academy in England or Australia," Yousuf wrote on X.

Yousuf also said that Babar remains Pakistan's best player of this generation and that personal coaching could help revive his career.

"He is still Pakistan's top player, and with the right guidance and a little effort, he can return to his best. I said this four years ago, and nobody listened. Please listen now," he added.

I don't think #BabarAzam should be playing first class cricket until he fixes his technical issues through specialized coaching. Struggling in domestic cricket could further harm his confidence and career. Send him to an academy in #England or #Australia. He is still Pakistan's top player, and with the right guidance and a little effort, he can return to his best. I said this four years ago, and nobody listened. Please listen now

— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) November 1, 2026

Babar returned to domestic cricket earlier this year, breaking a seven-year absence. He represented the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player in the President's Trophy Grade 1 first-class tournament.

Babar's struggles in Test cricket have continued over the past few years. He has not scored a Test century since December 2022, when he made 161 against New Zealand in Karachi.

Since the start of 2023, he has averaged just 30.43 in Tests, more than 12 runs below his career average. In 39 innings during this period, he has managed only eight half-centuries, including an alarming 18-innings stretch in which he failed to score beyond 41.

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