Lagatar24 Desk
Multan: Pakistan’s former captain, Babar Azam, has reportedly been dropped from the squad for the second Test against England following the team’s crushing defeat in the first Test in Multan. Babar, who has been struggling with form across all formats, managed only 30 and 5 runs in the two innings of the first Test, despite playing on a batter-friendly pitch.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the newly formed selection committee, which includes Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali, decided to leave Babar out of the squad due to his ongoing poor performance. The committee’s decision came after a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and five mentors appointed by the PCB on three-year contracts.
This decision follows remarks by Pakistan captain Shan Masood, who had earlier defended Babar, calling him the team’s best batter. Masood, in a post-match press conference, expressed confidence in Babar’s abilities, saying, “You always have to keep in mind that your best batter is just one game away.” However, despite Masood’s support, the majority of the selection committee reportedly felt that Babar’s continued inclusion could not be justified at this stage.
The committee, including the selectors and mentors, traveled to Multan on Saturday to finalize the squad after discussions with Masood, head coach Jason Gillespie, and PCB curator Tony Hemming. The Multan wicket had come under scrutiny for being overly conducive to batting, adding pressure on Pakistan’s bowling attack.
While some mentors advocated for Babar’s retention, the committee’s majority decision was to drop him ahead of the second Test, marking a significant moment in the star batter’s career.
