Virender Sehwag | Decreased Expectations May Have Affected Babar Azam Mentally
Virender Sehwag expressed his views on the slump form of Babar Azam in Test cricket, and how the expectations have decreased from him. Azam was rested from the second Test against England, being replaced by Kamran Ghumal. He also lost his captaincy for the team in white ball cricket afterwards.
Former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag talked about the recent slump form of Babar Azam in the Test format. His bad form led to him being dropped off the red ball format and losing his captaincy for the white ball cricket. Sehwag says this has happened due to Azam’s decreasing expectations of the team.
Babar Azam has not been able to perform well over the past few years in the red ball format, which has led to his being rested. He rested with other team pacers, such as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Although they were expected to end Pakistan’s home losing streak after the devastating loss against England in the first test, they were all rested for the second game.
They were replaced by spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali, while Azam was replaced with Kamran Ghumal in the second game. Pakistan was able to win the game against England by 152 runs, which also helped the team level the series and finally end their winless streak in Tests at home.
Virender Sehwag talked about Babar Azam’s form over the past few years and how the expectations of the team might have affected him mentally. On his YouTube channel, Sehwag said that,
Babar Azam should play domestic cricket now. He should work on his fitness, spend some time with family, then come back to international cricket as a physically fitter and mentally stronger player.
Kamran Ghumal, who made his debut replacing Babar Azam in the second game, gave a strong start to his career, by scoring a century in the game. He came out to bat at the number four position, which now questions Babar Azam’s place in the Test squad for the further series at home.
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