Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has discussed the reasons behind Babar Azam’s recent dip in form, highlighting two key factors contributing to the criticism of the star batter.
In an interview with a local sports channel, Butt, 39, explained that the severe criticism Babar faces is due to the immense pressure on him as Pakistan’s top run-scorer and the insufficient support from his teammates.
Butt noted that Babar’s struggles are not just about his current form but also due to the team’s over-reliance on him. “Babar is undoubtedly Pakistan’s best batter and one of the most consistent players of the last decade. However, the issue now is that he’s expected to carry the whole team,” Butt said.
He added that, in the past, multiple players could step up and win matches, which helped distribute the pressure and ensured a more balanced performance.
“In earlier times, there were 4-5 other players who could step up and win games, maintaining respect and contributing to overall success. Now, Babar scores the majority of the runs, but there’s no one to match his output. This imbalance has led to increased scrutiny when he underperforms,” Butt explained.
Butt also highlighted shortcomings in player development, criticizing the focus on power-hitting rather than developing solid batting techniques.
“The batting line-up now focuses on power-hitting instead of accumulating runs through strong technique. This has hurt the team’s chances when Babar doesn’t perform. The over-reliance on him to score runs has made his occasional failures more noticeable,” Butt added.
The former captain stressed that the lack of technique-focused training has left the team without reliable alternatives. “The problem isn’t just Babar’s form; it’s the failure to nurture other players who can contribute significantly.
The emphasis on aggressive play over traditional batting techniques has resulted in a lack of support for Babar during his struggles,” Butt concluded.
In the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh, Babar has been under pressure, scoring only 22 runs in the first innings of the first Test and 31 runs in the second innings so far. This ongoing struggle has intensified the focus on his role as the white-ball captain.