Azhar Ali Admits Collective Fault in Babar Azam’s Poor Form, Says He Was Degraded Instead of Supported

**Islamabad:** Former Pakistan cricket captain Azhar Ali has acknowledged that the national team collectively contributed to Babar Azam’s poor performance, saying the star batter was “degraded instead of supported.”

Speaking on the Geo Podcast, Azhar Ali openly discussed his career, personal life, and the struggles faced by Babar Azam. He said that Babar is now showing significant improvement, emphasizing that every player goes through periods of being out of form.

Reflecting on Babar’s challenges, Azhar noted the criticism he faced during the 2023 World Cup, followed by controversies related to friendships and agent issues, which led to his resignation from the captaincy and later reinstatement. Azhar said that enduring such scrutiny inevitably placed Babar under immense pressure, which affected his on-field performance.

He added that unlike past mentally strong captains like Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan, Babar seemed more vulnerable to pressure initially. However, Azhar believes that Babar has now begun enjoying cricket again, which is reflected in his improved performances.