Addressing media personnel ahead of Pakistan's final Test against England at Edgbaston, skipper Babar Azam mounted a sharp defense of his recent Test form. With his side trailing 2-0 and seeking a consolation victory to avoid a series sweep, the captain pushed back firmly when questioned about his personal contributions with the bat.
Last series mein Man of the Series mai hi tha: Babar Azam on his form
The inquiry drew a direct comparison to PCB selectors dropping teammates Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan over recent struggles, prompting the reporter to ask where Babar felt his own performances stood. Turning to his recent track record during a press conference ahead of third Test against England, Babar reminded critics:
"If you talk about the performance, mere khayaal se, last series mein Man of the Series mai hi tha (If you talk about performance, I believe I was the Player of the Series in our last assignment)."
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How did Babar Azam fare with the bat in series against West Indies?
That previous series, marked Babar's return to the captaincy. He spearheaded the batting effort by accumulating 193 runs across the fixtures, averaging 96.50 behind two key half-centuries to claim the series' top individual award.
That Caribbean tour marked Babar Azam's initial assignment back at the helm following his re-appointment as national captain, where he led the side with 193 runs at a sterling average of 96.50, including two half-centuries, to secure top individual honors.
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His momentum was halted shortly after when an injury sidelined the 31-year-old for the opening Test against England. Returning for the second match, his form wavered as he mustered a meager 14 runs across both innings. That defeat triggered a massive structural purge within the setup: head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were dismissed, while seven players were dropped from the squad, including senior figures Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq, who were instructed to return home.
Though Babar distanced himself from any involvement in the controversial cuts, the pressure on him has mounted immensely to steady a heavily overhauled roster heading into the third Test. Compounding his personal struggles, the star batter has now gone without a Test century since December 2022, a personal drought that mirrors the team's broader slump in the longest format. Having managed just two victories from eight outings in the 2025–2027 cycle, Pakistan's hopes of reaching WTC final have effectively slipped out of reach.