Pakistan cricket team skipper Shan Masood has said that there was no harm in pulling Babar Azam out midway through the PAK vs ENG series. The former Pakistan captain along with Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, were rested for the 2nd and 3rd Test as the revamped selection committee decided to make a bold call. While Babar Azam’s future in Tests remains uncertain for now, he will be in action in the ODIs against Australia next.
Babar Azam needs a “break”: Pakistan Test skipper
Speaking to BBC, Shan Masood heaped praise on Babar Azam, calling him one of the main batters for Pakistan. Masood stressed for the need for Babar Azam to take a break and backed Azam to return as a stronger player. Incidentally, reports had stated that Shan Masood was against the decision to drop Babar Azam but had no say since the PCB decided to curtail the power of coach and captain in team selection.
“I think this break will do him a great deal of benefit and he’ll come back a stronger player,” Masood said. “There’s no harm in being pulled out at times and having a breather. He’s played a lot of cricket and gone through a lot, and he’ll always be one of the main batsmen to play for Pakistan,” Shan Masood said.
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No Zimbabwe tour for Babar Azam
Babar Azam will be sad to miss out on the tour to Zimbabwe, considering it would have been a good series for him to get some runs under his belt. He has two hundreds & 459 ODI runs, and three half-centuries & 232 runs against ZIM, enjoying enormous success. However, Babar Azam will now have to prove his mettle in the series against Australia, that too in their own backyard. His form hasn’t been that great, given that he smashed his last ton in both T20Is and ODIs in 2023.
