WATCH: Emotional Babar Azam comforted by Jason Gillespie and Shan Masood, video goes viral

On Sunday, news came to light that Babar Azam had been dropped for the final two Tests against England. The 29-year-old scored a total of 35 runs in the first game to continue his awful form with the bat in the longest format. Apart from Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah have also been axed from the side for the last two games. 

On Monday, a video was doing rounds on social media platform X. Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie was seen chatting with Babar Azam. As the former Pakistan skipper was walking, Gillespie could be seen putting his arms around Babar. 

Looks like Jason Glipssie, Azhar Mahmood and Shan Masood are not happy with the exclusion of Babar Azam... pic.twitter.com/9EOekbTrR8

— Hassan Abbasian (@HassanAbbasian) October 13, 2024

England and Pakistan will play their 2nd Test in Multan starting on 15th October. Incidentally, it is also Babar Azam’s birthday when the second Test begins on Tuesday. Ollie Pope and his side had won the opening game by an innings and 47 runs. Pakistan had scored 556 runs and England replied with 823/7 on the board. 

Former cricketers come out in support of axed former Skipper 

Saeed Anwar, Pakistan’s former batter took to X and wrote “This too shall pass, Stay strong Babar Azam Beta. This has been happening in anybody's career, you will bounce back INSHAHALLAH”. Meanwhile, former England skipper Michael Vaughan too wasn't happy with the move. 

Taking to X, Vaughan wrote “So Pakistan haven’t won in a while .. Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in @babarazam258. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises but this tops the lot, absolutely stupid decision. Unless he has asked for a break”

So Pakistan haven’t won in a while .. Go 1 nil down in the series and decide to drop the best player in @babarazam258 .. I guess Pakistan cricket is full of surprises but this tops the lot .. absolutely stupid decision .. unless he has asked for a break !!!

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 13, 2024

Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg meanwhile lashed out at Fakhar Zaman over his tweet. Fakhar Zaman in a bid to support his teammate had compared Babar Azam and Virat Kohli’s bad phases with the bat and asked PCB to support the player. 

Comparing bad form between Babar Azam & Kohli after rumours the Pakistan legend will be dropped for the 2nd test v England is baseless.
India: 2nd best win % during Kohli's draught.
Pakistan: 2nd worst win % through Babar's.
Hard decisions need to be made!#ENGvsPAK #IINDvAUS

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) October 14, 2024

Responding to his Hogg wrote on X “Comparing bad form between Babar Azam & Kohli after rumours the Pakistan legend will be dropped for the 2nd test v England is baseless. India: 2nd best win % during Kohli's draught. Pakistan: 2nd worst win % through Babar's. Hard decisions need to be made”