London, August 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Pakistan cricketer and batting coach Mohammad Yousuf has sharply criticised the coaching setup for failing to help Babar Azam address technical shortcomings, saying unresolved flaws have contributed to the batter’s prolonged struggles.
Babar has not scored a Test century since December 2022, although he has come close to reaching three figures on several occasions in recent matches. His recurring dismissals have also intensified scrutiny of his batting.
During the first innings of the ongoing second Test against England, Babar was dismissed after once again falling prey to a weakness that was highlighted on air by former England captain Nasser Hussain, who analysed the Pakistan batter’s dismissal patterns against England and the West Indies.
Yousuf, reacting to Hussain’s analysis, blamed what he called “so-called coaches” for not giving Babar the opportunity to work on weaknesses that he believed could have been corrected.
“A few years ago I warned about this, but unfortunately some so-called coaches around Babar Azam & other players didn’t allow him to work on issues that could have been easily resolved. That failure has dragged Pakistan cricket into the decline we see today,” Yousuf wrote on X while sharing the video.
He went on to describe such coaches as “poison for the game”, accusing them of lacking vision, blocking progress and misleading talented players.
“The poor technique of our players has now been brutally exposed from Bangladesh to England. What could have been corrected years ago has instead become a glaring weakness, leaving Pakistan cricket vulnerable and struggling on the international stage,” he added.
Babar’s difficult run has coincided with Pakistan’s broader struggles. The team has lost nine of its last 10 matches away from home, with its only victory coming against the West Indies.
Babar was removed as Test captain in late 2023 during his prolonged lean patch before being reinstated in July 2026 after Shan Masood’s tenure failed to produce improved results.
Pakistan are currently in a difficult position in the ongoing Lord’s Test against England. The visitors were dismissed for 110 in their first innings after England had posted 290. Pakistan had also lost the opening Test at Headingley, where their batting failed to deliver.
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