Pakistan set to drop Babar Azam for 2nd Test vs England in Multan: Reports

After the humiliating loss to England in the 1st Test of the three-match series, there is a huge shock in store for Pakistan cricket fans. As per reports carried out by ESPNCRICINFO, former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam is set to be dropped. The 29-year-old scored 35 runs in the game and also dropped Joe Root’s catch when the batter was on 186. 

Babar Azam’s Test form has taken a huge nose dive for the last two years. The right-handed batter has played 9 games, batted in 17 innings and scored 352 runs. What is more alarming is that Babar hasn’t either scored a fifty or a century in this period. This year he has played four matches and scored just 148 runs. 

His poor run of form began with the SCG test where Babar scored a total of 49 runs. In the 2 Tests at home against Bangladesh, his run tally was a mere 64 runs from four innings with a best of 31 which is his best this year. if this move is taken it will be the start of the most harsh steps that will be essential to put Pakistan back on track. 

Shan Masood backs Babar Azam to snap bad form with the bat 

At the end of the game, Pakistan’s Test skipper Shan Masood publicly backed his best batter to come good. Masood said "We want to build a squad mentality. We don't play a lot of Test cricket. Especially as a batter, it is not easy”

Pakistani skipper also added “You have to give a lot of opportunities, and there is no doubt that Babar Azam is Pakistan's best batter. You always have to keep in mind that your best batter is just one game away. We will reflect and see the conditions that will be on offer. We will try to put the best team on the side”

So far Babar Azam has played 55 Test matches and is just 3 runs shy of scoring 4000 runs. The right-handed batter has also hit 9 centuries and 26 fifties with an average of 43 and a best of 196 that came against Australia in Karachi.