Dinesh Karthik defends Babar Azam amid his poor Test form
Former Indian wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik has expressed his support for Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam, who is currently facing criticism due to his lackluster performance in Test cricket. Azam, a right-handed batter and ex-captain of Pakistan, has been unable to record 50+ scores in Test cricket. This dip in form has led to questions about his place on the team from fans, former players, and cricket experts.
Karthik's endorsement of Azam's batting potential
Despite the ongoing debate about Azam's form and his position in the Pakistani team, Karthik has publicly endorsed him. On Cricbuzz's HeyCB with DK show, Karthik stated, "Babar Azam as a player, nobody can doubt his quality. He's got outstanding batting potential." He also suggested that Azam might be feeling pressured due to his leadership role, something that needs reconsideration.
Take on Pakistan's defeat in 1st Test
Karthik also commented on Pakistan's surprising 10-wicket loss to Bangladesh in the 1st Test, suggesting that they declared their 1st innings prematurely. "Pakistan now in that Test match against Bangladesh; I thought they declared a touch too early in the first inning. In Asia, it's about batting big and batting long in the first inning," he said. Meanwhile, Salman Agha, a Pakistani all-rounder, also defended Azam amid criticism over his recent form.
Babar goes 16 Test innings without 50-plus score
Babar is experiencing a challenging phase in his Test career. His difficulties were highlighted during the 2nd Test against Bangladesh on Day 4. Babar was dismissed by young pacer Nahid Rana as he departed after managing just 11 runs. He has now gone 16 Test innings with a 50-plus score in the longest format. His last score above 50 was a commendable 161 against New Zealand in December 2022.
Babar's dismal run in Bangladesh series
In the recent two-Test series against Bangladesh, Babar managed just 64 runs. This marks his third consecutive Test series without crossing the 50-run mark, following Pakistan's tours of Sri Lanka and Australia. Babar had a forgettable time in Tests in 2023 as well. According to ESPNcricinfo, he featured in five Tests last year and could only manage 202 runs at 22.66. Interestingly, he clobbered 1,184 runs at a brilliant average of 69.64 in Tests in 2022.
