PAK vs ENG: Babar Azam ordered to follow Virat Kohli to improve performance by Younis Khan

Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan commented on national cricket team white-ball skipper Babar Azam's recent struggles with the bat. Younis Khan said that Babar Azam needs to focus on improving his performance and added that Pakistani players often talk more than they perform.

Babar has been going through the most difficult phase of his career. He stepped down from his leadership roles following the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, he was reappointed as white-ball captain before the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan faced a group-stage exit during the T20 World Cup.

The 29-year-old batter has also failed to make an impact with the bat across formats. He failed to score a half-century during the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, where Pakistan suffered a humiliating 0-2 defeat. His poor form has sparked criticism from fans and former cricketers alike.

Babar Azam Should Focus On His Cricket - Younis Khan

During an event in Pakistan, Younis Khan advised Babar Azam to focus on his cricket to overcome his poor form and added that results will improve if top players perform well on the field. Khan said that Babar was made captain in 2019 due to his exceptional batting at the time.

“The only suggestion I have for Babar is that he should focus on his cricket. He should up his performance. Babar Azam was made the captain because he was the best player at the time. I was there when the decision was made that the team’s best player should be the captain," Younis said.

“If Babar and other top players deliver on the field, then results will be clear to everyone. I have observed that our players tend to talk more than they perform," he added.

He Has Achieved A Lot At Such A Young Age - Younis Khan

Younis Khan said that Babar Azam should follow Virat Kohli's example, noting that Kohli regained his form after stepping down as captain. The legendary middle-order batter emphasized that performance is more important than captaincy.

"He has achieved a lot at such a young age, but what he needs to know what he wants to achieve in the future. Captaincy is a small thing, performance is what matters," Younis further stated.

"Look at Virat Kohli. He chose to step down from captaincy on his own terms, and now he’s breaking records worldwide. This shows that playing for the country should be the priority. If there’s any energy left, then play for yourself,” he added.

Shan Masood has started his Test captaincy with five consecutive losses, including a 0-3 loss against Australia. Masood might be replaced before the England series, according to reports. Babar Azam could also be stripped of his captaincy following Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup performance.

Babar is currently participating in the Champions Cup, a domestic one-day tournament. Pakistan is set to play a three-match Test series against England, starting on October 7 in Multan.

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