Image: Former cricketer Herschelle Gibbs mocked Babar Azam’s English / © Free Press Journal
During the buildup to the 2025 Champions Trophy, former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs took a dig at Babar Azam’s English proficiency while responding to a fan on social media. Gibbs, who worked with Babar during his stint as Karachi Kings’ head coach in the Pakistan Super League, stated that a language barrier makes it difficult to communicate key points to the star batter. He also criticized Babar’s reluctance to modify his approach, pointing out that he still plays with the same tempo and shot selection as before.
Babar’s recent performances have been underwhelming, with scores of 10 (23) and 23 (19) in the ongoing tri-nation series against Pakistan and New Zealand. Gibbs’ comments came after a fan urged him to give Babar advice on overcoming his lean patch. The former cricketer emphasized that Babar’s lack of adaptability has contributed to his struggles.
Despite the criticism, Babar will have an opportunity to regain form in the tri-series final against New Zealand on February 14 at Karachi’s National Stadium. His performance will be closely watched as Pakistan prepares for the Champions Trophy.