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Shan Masood Breaks Silence On Babar Azam's Poor Form Ahead Of Australia ODIs

Anurag Dasgupta

Masood backs out of form Babar [Source: @Cricmat777/X.Com] Masood backs out of form Babar [Source: @Cricmat777/X.Com]

Pakistan Test skipper, Shan Masood has backed out of form Babar Azam to come out of his poor slump ahead of the ODI series against the Australian side. The year 2024 has not been kind for the former Pakistan skipper, Babar, who is yet to play any match-winning knock this year.

Babar was omitted from the last two Test matches Vs England, which the Pakistan team won to clinch the series. Babar endured a tough run against the English side in the first Test match in Multan and as a result, the PCB selection members decided to remove Babar from the Test team, alongside his teammates, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah.

Babar has not scored a Test half-century since December 2022 and has been woefully out of form. However, ahead of the ODI series against Australia, Test skipper Shan Masood believes that giving break to Babar has done more good than harm and he reckons the former captain will get back to his old form in the upcoming series.

"I think he's one of the best batsmen in the world. I'm nobody to [say he doesn't have] a future," Masood told the BBC Stumped radio programme. "He has every quality to be one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket. He's always there or thereabouts in the rankings. Sometimes, people need a break."

"I think this break will do him a great deal of benefit and he'll come back a stronger player," Masood said. "There's no harm in being pulled out at times and having a breather. He's played a lot of cricket and gone through a lot, and he'll always be one of the main batsmen to play for Pakistan," Masood added.

Babar's redemption begins with Australia series

This will be Pakistan's first ODI match since their shocking exit in the 2023 World Cup in India. It has almost been one-year since Pakistan last played in the 50-over format and Babar Azam would love to get his form back, Down Under.

ODI cricket is his go to format and the former skipper will be eager to get some runs under his belt, especially with the Champions Trophy coming up in a couple of months time.

The first ODI of the series will be played on November 4 as Pakistan look to redeem themselves in white-ball cricket after a poor show this year.