Babar Azam, Pakistan’s cricket superstar, is facing a tough time on the field. Known for his consistent performances over the years, Babar has recently struggled to find his form. His performance in the recent Test series against Bangladesh was disappointing, where he couldn’t score a single half-century and was even dismissed for 0 in one of the matches.
Babar’s Ranking Slips After 5 Years
For the first time in five years, Babar Azam has dropped out of the top 10 in the ICC Test rankings. The latest rankings released by the ICC show Babar slipping to the 12th position with a rating of 712. Just last week, he was ranked 9th, but a poor run of form has seen him fall three spots. This marks the first time since 2018 that Babar is not among the top 10 Test batsmen.
Struggles with the Bat
2024 has been a challenging year for Babar Azam. He has played three Test matches so far, but his performance has been far from his usual standards. In 6 innings, he has managed to score only 113 runs, averaging just 18.83. His highest score in these matches is only 31, which is uncharacteristic for a player of his caliber.
The struggle isn’t limited to Test cricket. Babar has also found it difficult to perform in T20 matches this year. Despite playing 19 T20 games, he has scored 660 runs, which includes six half-centuries. However, these runs haven’t come in crucial matches, and he has often been dismissed after playing poor shots. His inconsistency is drawing criticism from fans and experts alike.
Impact on Pakistan Team’s Ranking
Babar Azam’s dip in form has also affected the Pakistan cricket team’s performance. The latest ICC Test rankings show that Pakistan has dropped two places, falling to the 8th position. This decline comes after Pakistan suffered a clean sweep in the 2-match Test series against Bangladesh. The team’s poor performance in this series has led to a significant drop in their ranking.
Babar Azam’s Future Challenges
The pressure is now on Babar Azam to regain his form and lead Pakistan back to winning ways. Fans hope that this slump is temporary and that Babar will return to his best soon. For now, the star batsman will need to work hard to climb back up the rankings and bring success to the Pakistan cricket team.
