Pak Vs Eng Test Series: Babar Azam To Be Dropped For Multan Test? Here's What We Know

Babar Azam might not be part of Pakistan's playing XI for the second Test against England at Multan Cricket Stadium. Although the team lineup hasn't been officially declared, reports indicate that a newly formed selection committee, including Aqib Javed, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar, has suggested dropping Babar. This decision comes amid his ongoing struggle with form.

In recent matches, Babar has faced challenges in scoring runs. His last fifty-plus score was 161 against New Zealand in December 2022. Since then, he has failed to reach a half-century in 18 innings. His average in Test cricket has dropped to 43.92, reflecting his difficulties in maintaining consistency.

Pakistan's Recent Performance

Pakistan's performance in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle has been disappointing. They are currently at the bottom of the points table and have been eliminated from the race to the finals. Their recent loss to England further compounded their struggles.

The updated WTC points table shows Pakistan ranked ninth with only two wins out of eight matches. They have accumulated just 16 points with a percentage of 16.67%. This poor performance highlights their challenges in the current cycle.

Babar's Struggles Against Bangladesh

Before facing England, Pakistan played a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Babar's performance was underwhelming during this series as well. He managed scores of 0, 22, 31, and 11 across four innings. Pakistan lost both matches and faced criticism for their first-ever Test series defeat to Bangladesh.

During the first Test against England in Multan, Babar had an opportunity to make a significant impact but could only score a total of 35 runs across two innings. This added to his ongoing struggle to find form in red-ball cricket.