Babar Struggling to Perform Under Captaincy Pressure, Says Waqar Younis

Former Pakistan captain and fast bowler Waqar Younis has expressed concern over Babar Azam’s performance since he was handed the Test captaincy. According to Waqar, Pakistan are losing Babar as a batter because he has been unable to handle the additional pressure that comes with leadership.

Pakistan were recently whitewashed 3-0 by England in a Test series on home soil. Speaking about Babar Azam at an event following the series, Waqar Younis said, “There is no shortage in Babar as a player. He is a very organised, complete and elegant batter. But when he is given the responsibility of captaincy, he puts a lot of pressure on himself. Whenever he is given this responsibility, there is a decline in his performance.”

Waqar further said, “As a captain, you have to be mentally very strong and support the players in your team. If a captain cannot stand by his players, then it is a great injustice to the players as well as to the position of captaincy.”

Earlier this year, Babar Azam was reappointed as Pakistan’s Test captain after Shan Masood was removed from the role. However, the 31-year-old batter has not scored a Test century since his hundred against New Zealand in December 2022, meaning he has gone nearly four years without a century in the format.

Pakistan are currently ninth in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.