Babar Azam’s Test Slump Deepens as Criticism Mounts Against Coaching Staff

The pressure surrounding Babar Azam has reached a boiling point following another disappointing outing at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. The star batter’s ongoing struggle for form continued in the second innings against England, where he was dismissed for a paltry 6 runs, failing to mount a challenge while chasing a formidable 389-run target.

Babar’s latest failure, punctuated by a sharp dismissal by pace spearhead Jofra Archer, highlights a prolonged drought for the former captain. Remarkably, Babar has not recorded a Test century since December 2022. Despite coming agonizingly close on several occasions, the elusive triple-figure mark continues to evade him, fueling concerns about his technical application and mental fortitude in the longest format of the game.

Mohammad Yousuf Labels Coaching Staff “Poison”

As Pakistan stares down the barrel of yet another defeat, former batting legend and coach Mohammad Yousuf has launched a scathing critique of the team’s current support staff. Taking to social media, Yousuf alleged that the “so-called coaches” surrounding the team have actively hindered the development of Pakistan’s most gifted players.

“A few years ago, I warned about this, but unfortunately, some coaches around Babar Azam and other players didn’t allow him to work on issues that could have been easily resolved,” Yousuf wrote. “These coaches are poison for the game. They lack vision, they block progress, and they misguide even the most talented players.”

Yousuf further argued that the technical deficiencies currently on display—from the recent series against Bangladesh to the ongoing struggle in England—are a direct result of institutional mismanagement. “What could have been corrected years ago has instead become a glaring weakness, leaving Pakistan cricket vulnerable and struggling on the international stage,” he added.

A Troubling Trend for Pakistan Cricket

The individual crisis facing Babar Azam mirrors a wider malaise within the Pakistan Test setup. The team is currently enduring a harrowing run of form, having lost nine of their last ten away matches, with their sole victory in that stretch coming against the West Indies.

The leadership carousel has further complicated matters. After being removed from the captaincy in late 2023, Babar was reinstated to the role in July 2026 following an unsuccessful stint under Shan Masood. As the team struggles to find consistency, the focus remains firmly on whether Babar can rediscover his world-class rhythm or if the structural issues highlighted by Yousuf will continue to stifle the growth of Pakistan’s next generation of cricketers.

For now, the team finds itself in an all-too-familiar position: reeling from a batting collapse and searching for answers in the shadow of a legendary home of cricket.