Babar Azam’s disappointing run in Test cricket continued to Pakistan at Lord’s, with the Pakistan captain being unable to rise to the occasion when his team desperately needed him during day four of the second Test against England on Sunday. Pakistan, who were chasing a massive target of 389, looked to their experienced batters to provide resistance and keep the match alive. However, repeated dismissals left Pakistan facing an uphill battle, with Babar managing only six runs before Jofra Archer got rid of him.

Babar’s dismissal was particularly damaging because Pakistan were in a difficult position and required stability at the top of their batting order following cheap dismissals of their other batters. But no batter could resist the pressure created by England bowlers. Amid Pakistan’s alarming performances in the series, former captain Mohammad Yousuf has raised questions about the coaching and technical support being provided to the players. According to Yusuf, certain flaws could have been identified and addressed much earlier.

“Few years ago I warned about this, but unfortunately some so called coaches around Babar Azam & other players didn’t allow him to work on issues that could have been easily resolved. That failure has dragged Pakistan cricket into the decline we see today,” Yousuf wrote on X. 

“These coaches are poison for the game. They lack vision, they block progress, and they misguide even the most talented players. If our cricketers don’t learn who to listen to, their careers will end far sooner than they should,” he stated.

Pakistan’s problems in the series have extended well beyond Babar because their batting unit has struggled to build partnerships, and the same was seen during the second Test, which they lost by 194 runs. Meanwhile, Yusuf highlighted the poor technique that has totally weakened the team’s batting. 

“The poor technique of our players has now been brutally exposed from Bangladesh to England. What could have been corrected years ago has instead become a glaring weakness, leaving Pakistan cricket vulnerable and struggling on the international stage,” Yousuf concluded.