Test captain Shan Masood has thrown his weight behind Babar Azam, dismissing ongoing criticism of the former skipper’s form and reaffirming his status as the country’s most reliable batter.
The endorsement comes at a time when Azam’s place in the side has faced unprecedented scrutiny following a string of low scores in Test cricket. Despite the noise surrounding his recent performances, Masood remains unmoved. He sees Azam not just as a member of the squad, but as the engine room of Pakistan’s batting lineup.
“Babar is our best batter,” Masood told reporters on the sidelines of the team’s training camp. “One or two bad series don’t change the fact that he is the one who has carried this team’s batting for years.”
The captain’s public support acts as a shield for Azam, who has struggled to replicate his prolific white-ball form in the longest format recently. Critics have pointed to his diminishing returns in the last five Test matches, where he has failed to cross the 50-run mark. For Masood, however, analyzing a player of Azam’s caliber requires a longer lens.
“Every player goes through a lean patch,” Masood said. “You don’t discard your best players when they are down. You back them.”
The dynamic between the two leaders has been a focal point for local media since the captaincy transition earlier this year. Masood’s decision to prioritize team stability over short-term reactionary changes suggests he is trying to foster a culture of backing talent rather than bowing to external pressure.
While the team management has faced calls to experiment with the middle order, Masood’s comments signal that Azam’s position at number four is secure for the upcoming series. The challenge now shifts to the pitch, where Azam must translate this institutional faith into runs.
For Pakistan, the math is simple: they need their senior players to fire if they are to climb back up the World Test Championship standings. Masood isn’t looking for a replacement; he’s looking for a resurgence. Whether Azam can find his rhythm under the current spotlight remains the defining sub-plot of Pakistan’s season.
