Australia omit star pace trio for England series

Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousaf has called for Babar Azam to undergo specialized batting instruction in either England or Australia, rather than return to domestic cricket to improve his form. Yousaf made this suggestion following Babar's poor performance, where he scored a duck in Pakistan's ODIs final against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Although Pakistan won the match with a narrow three-wicket victory, Babar's batting issues have become a significant concern for the team. Yousaf cautioned that playing more domestic cricket could further damage Babar's confidence. In a tweet on X, Yousaf stated, "I don't think Babar Azam should be playing first class cricket until he fixes his technical issues through specialized coaching.

Struggling in domestic cricket could further harm his confidence and career. Send him to an academy in England or Australia. He is still Pakistan's top player, and with the right guidance and a little effort, he can return to his best." Yousaf claims he had previously given the same advice four years ago, but it went unheeded. During the ODI tri-series, Babar managed just 118 runs in five innings, averaging 23.60 and failing to score a half-century.

Despite recent struggles, Yousaf remains one of Pakistan's most accomplished batters. Yousaf's advice arrives as Babar is set to return to domestic cricket, having been selected for the Lahore Whites squad in the upcoming Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which begins on November 3 in Islamabad. The team will also face Sri Lanka in a two-Test series starting on November 9.

Yousaf believes Babar's technical issues must be addressed before he faces further competitive cricket, emphasizing that the young player still possesses the ability to regain his form with proper guidance.