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Pakistan cricket superstar Babar Azam, once celebrated for his consistent performances, has recently been grappling with a dip in form. The 29-year-old skipper endured a disappointing campaign in both the ODI World Cup 2023 and the T20 World Cup 2024, failing to make a significant impact with the bat. His struggles have been a cause of concern for fans and experts alike, as Babar, known for his elegant stroke play, has been unable to find his rhythm in recent international outings.
Former cricketer makes a bold prediction
Despite Babar’s recent challenges, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has made a bold prediction regarding the star batter’s future. In a recent statement, Basit expressed strong confidence that Babar would make a remarkable comeback, predicting that the right-hander will score five centuries in the next five months. Basit’s assertion comes as a beacon of hope for Babar’s supporters, who are eager to see him return to his best form.
“Babar Azam will score five centuries in the coming five months. Babar has the best chance to leave the top batters behind, whether it is Kane Williamson or Joe Root. It is a very easy chance,” said Basit on his YouTube channel.
No captaincy pressure in Tests
Basit attributed this predicted resurgence to the fact that Babar will be playing without the added burden of captaincy in Test cricket. According to Basit, the absence of leadership responsibilities will allow Babar to focus solely on his batting, enabling him to reclaim his position as one of the top batters in the world.
“However, now that the pressure of captaincy is off from him, he should forget about the captaincy. He should remove the thought of captaincy from his mind and just focus on scoring runs,” added Basit.
Also READ: Former Pakistan cricketer calls on Babar Azam to resign from white-ball captaincy
Comparison with Virat Kohli
In his analysis, Basit also drew a comparison between Babar and Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, particularly focusing on their batting techniques. He suggested that Babar could benefit from adjusting his stance slightly and working on his foot movement, drawing on advice from the legendary Zaheer Abbas.
“Babar Azam still has seven to eight days. He should start skipping ropes. I am giving him this advice which was given to me by Asian Bradman, Zaheer Abbas. It helps in feet movement. Also, Babar needs to shorten his stance by a few inches. If he does these things, he will leave the top batters behind in five months. If you want to see someone’s stance, look at Virat Kohli. Both of them have the same height,” Basit added further.
Fans’ expectations in the upcoming Test series
With Pakistan’s home Test series against Bangladesh on the horizon, fans are eagerly anticipating Babar’s return to form. The upcoming matches present an ideal opportunity for Babar to silence his critics and reaffirm his status as one of the premier batters in the world. Supporters are hopeful that Basit’s bold prediction will come to fruition, with Babar delivering the kind of performances that have made him a national hero.
