NEW DELHI: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has defended star batter Babar Azam after another disappointing innings in the second Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. Babar scored just 31 runs off 77 balls on Day 2 before being dismissed LBW by a delivery from Shakib Al Hasan.
Babar's form in the series has been underwhelming, following his dismissal for a duck and a 22-run innings in the first Test, which Pakistan lost by 10 wickets.
In the second Test, Pakistan struggled again, collapsing from 179/4 to 274 all out.
Scorecard: Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test
Babar's last score over fifty in Test cricket was in late 2022, and since then, he has struggled to make significant contributions, causing his Test average to dip below 45. Despite this lean patch, Salman Ali Agha remains optimistic about Babar's return to form.
"Babar Azam is a world-class player. As a cricketer, you go through these phases. He has scored consistently throughout the last five years. Soon, we will see him scoring big runs for Pakistan again," said Salman Ali Agha.
He further added, "There are 10 other players in the team, you should focus on them. It's fine if he's struggling. He will return to scoring big runs very soon."
Babar Azam, regarded as one of Pakistan's finest batters, has faced a rough period in Test cricket recently. Despite his struggles, the team management and his teammates remain confident in his abilities to bounce back.
