Mon Oct 07 07:51:56 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan Captain Backs Babar Azam Despite Recent Struggles

**KARACHI, PAKISTAN** – Despite a recent dip in form, Pakistan captain Babar Azam has received unwavering support from his team. Despite a string of low scores, red-ball captain Shan Masood remains confident in the batsman’s abilities, attributing the slump to a lack of consistent match practice.

“Babar Azam is one of the world’s best batters,” Masood stated, emphasizing the need for patience. “He’s getting starts, and he doesn’t look out of form.” Masood acknowledged the 10-month gap between test series as a contributing factor, but also highlighted Babar’s recent performance in the Champions Cup, where he showed resilience and adaptability.

Babar’s numbers this year have indeed been concerning. He averages just 22.67 in 2023 and a paltry 18.83 in 2024. However, his home record remains formidable, averaging a staggering 67.77 in home tests, making him the most successful batsman at home since 1990.

The disparity between Babar’s home and away performances is particularly striking, with a 30.91 difference in his averages, the highest among the top ten batsmen since 1990. This stark contrast is further emphasized by his World Test Championship record.

Despite the current struggles, Masood and the team remain confident in Babar’s ability to regain his form. “He’s our number one batter,” Masood reiterated. Meanwhile, all-rounder Salman Agha echoed similar sentiments, reminding the media that “He will return to scoring big runs very soon.”

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