Sehwag advises Babar Azam to 'focus on domestic cricket' to overcome slump

Babar has been under scrutiny over poor run in Test cricket as he has failed to score a fifty in his last 18 innings

Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has offered advice to Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam, urging him to return to domestic cricket to regain his form and focus on mental resilience.

Speaking on Shoaib Akhtar's YouTube channel, Sehwag expressed confidence in Babar’s ability to overcome his current slump, attributing his struggles to psychological challenges rather than technical flaws.

Babar Azam has been under intense scrutiny following his poor run of form in Test cricket, where he has failed to score a fifty in his last 18 innings. His recent performances in the Test series against England were particularly disappointing, with scores of 30 and 5 in the first match.

Consequently, the newly formed selection panel decided to drop him for the second and third Tests, a move aimed at rejuvenating the team's performance.

Sehwag, known for his aggressive batting style and cricketing acumen, recommended that Babar take a break from international cricket and focus on the basics.

"Babar Azam should play domestic cricket now. He should work on his fitness, he should spend some time with family, then come back to international cricket as a physically fitter and mentally stronger player," Sehwag advised.

He added that Babar’s recent issues seem to stem more from mental fatigue than technical deficiencies.

The former Indian opener stressed the importance of mental strength during challenging periods in a player’s career, noting that Babar’s resignation from captaincy and the mounting expectations may have taken a psychological toll. "With expectations from Babar decreasing and his resignation from captaincy, it seems he has been more impacted mentally than in terms of technique. He needs to stay mentally strong. He's a talented player, and players like him tend to bounce back quickly," Sehwag said.

Babar’s recent Test form has indeed been concerning. In addition to his poor performance in the ongoing series against England, he managed just 64 runs at an average of 16 in Pakistan’s 2-Test series against Bangladesh, a series Pakistan shockingly lost at home. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the difficult decision to rest him, with the belief that a break from international cricket will help Babar reset mentally and physically.

However, Babar will have a crucial opportunity to regain his form in the upcoming white-ball series against Australia, scheduled for November. The series, which includes three ODIs and three T20 Internationals, will allow Babar to shift his focus to limited-overs cricket, where he has historically been more consistent.

Fans and the PCB alike will be hoping for a resurgence in his performances as Pakistan prepares for the challenges ahead.