Zaheer Questions if Babar’s Hesitation to Seek Guidance is Hindering Him

Renowned Pakistani cricketer Zaheer Abbas has voiced his concerns regarding Babar Azam’s persistent struggles with his batting form.

Zaheer, the sole Pakistani batter to achieve 100 first-class centuries, openly shared his perspective, wondering whether Babar’s reluctance to seek assistance is impeding his progress.

“It is my belief that either Babar possesses an ego problem or is too reserved to solicit advice from senior players to overcome his present difficulties,” Zaheer stated.

The former Pakistan captain emphasized that players from previous eras frequently sought guidance from one another during challenging periods, even amidst intense rivalries between India and Pakistan.

He recounted instances where cross-border support aided players in regaining their form.

“As I recall, in 2016, Younis Khan consulted Mohammad Azharuddin and subsequently achieved a double century in England. I also remember Azharuddin seeking my counsel during India’s tour to Pakistan in 1989-90,” he mentioned.

“He was finding it difficult to score runs, and I suggested he adjust his batting grip. Saeed Anwar also sought advice from Sunil Gavaskar,” he added.

The 77-year-old observed that Babar’s current posture appears more constrained than before, a technical alteration that he believes is affecting the batter’s timing and shot execution.

“I believe that this is the reason he is struggling to time his shots and is being dismissed early,” he noted.

Despite his status as Pakistan’s premier batter across all formats, Babar has faced a challenging period in recent months. His most recent international century occurred against Nepal during the 2023 Asia Cup—nearly two years prior.

He was recently assigned opening responsibilities alongside Fakhar Zaman in a tri-nation ODI series featuring New Zealand and South Africa but did not make a significant impact, scoring 10, 23, and 29 in his innings.

Despite this, the team management continued to support Babar as an opener during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Nevertheless, his influence remained limited, with a highest score of 64 against New Zealand and 23 against India during the group stage.