Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has urged Babar Azam to skip first-class cricket for now and instead work on his technique through specialised coaching at an academy in England or Australia.
In a post on X on 1 November 2026, Yousuf wrote: “I don’t think Babar Azam 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.”
Yousuf added that Babar is still Pakistan’s top player and, with the right guidance and a little effort, can return to his best. He said he had made the same suggestion four years ago and nobody listened, adding: “Please listen now.”
The advice follows Babar’s lean run in the recently concluded home ODI tri-series, in which he scored 118 runs in five matches at an average of 23.60, and was dismissed for a duck in the final against Sri Lanka.
Babar is scheduled to play for Lahore Whites against Shaheen Shah Afridi’s FATA side in the 2026-27 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, starting on 3 November in Islamabad, ahead of Pakistan’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka beginning on 9 November.
Sources: Geo Super (1 Nov 2026), ARY News (2 Nov 2026), NDTV Sports (2 Nov 2026), Gulf News (2 Nov 2026).
Note: This image is an AI-generated illustration and is not a photo of the actual event.