Ramiz Raja Criticizes Babar Azam Following Dismissal in BAN vs PAK Test
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A Troubling Dismissal in the Second Test
The second Test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan has brought to light deep-seated issues within the Pakistani batting lineup. Among the various points of contention, the performance and subsequent dismissal of Babar Azam have drawn sharp criticism from former Pakistan player and commentator, Ramiz Raja. Despite a promising start that saw Babar reach 68, his inability to handle a change in pace from Bangladesh’s Nahid Rana led to an abrupt and avoidable end to his innings.
The Tactical Failure
Ramiz Raja did not mince words when analyzing the dismissal. He argued that for a player of Babar Azam’s experience, failing to read the change in pace from a bowler like Nahid Rana is a significant lapse in judgment. According to Raja, the hallmark of an elite batter is the ability to adjust to the bowler’s changing tempo. After successfully dealing with high-speed deliveries reaching up to 149 kph, the expectation is that a senior player would anticipate a slower delivery. Instead, Babar was caught off guard, resulting in a top-edged catch to Mushfiqur Rahim at mid-on.
“You’ve spoiled the whole session by giving away your wicket,” Raja remarked. He emphasized that Babar’s struggles with variations in pace have become a glaring weakness that smart international teams are now actively exploiting. For a player with his stature and years of experience, the lack of a tactical plan against such variations is concerning for the team’s prospects.
Context of the WTC Campaign
The timing of this performance is particularly damaging for Pakistan. Having never reached a World Test Championship (WTC) final, Pakistan currently finds itself in a precarious position. The team has slipped to the eighth position in the standings, further compounded by an eight-point penalty due to a slow over-rate in the previous match. The series against Bangladesh has been a struggle across the board; the Pakistani batters have failed to surpass the scores set by the Bangladesh side in every single innings of the series thus far.
The Broader Batting Collapse
Babar Azam’s return to the playing XI, replacing Imam-ul-Haq, was intended to stabilize a top order that has been notoriously inconsistent. While he did manage to score his 20th half-century in WTC history—placing him alongside stalwarts like Zak Crawley and Steve Smith—the relief was short-lived. Following his departure, the middle and lower-middle order failed to provide any resistance. Despite a late cameo from spinner Sajid Khan, the Pakistan innings folded for 232, leaving them trailing by 46 runs.
Looking Ahead
The criticism from figures like Ramiz Raja underscores the mounting pressure on the team. Skipper Shan Masood has previously cited a lack of impact from the pacers and an overall lack of intensity as reasons for the team’s struggles. However, the batting failures, specifically the inability of the top order to anchor long innings, remain the most significant hurdle. As Pakistan looks to salvage its standing in the WTC, the need for technical adjustments and mental fortitude has never been more pressing. Babar Azam, as the cornerstone of this batting unit, will undoubtedly need to refine his approach to pace variations if he is to lead the team out of this difficult patch.
The series against Bangladesh serves as a stark reminder that in Test cricket, individual milestones are secondary to the team’s ability to maintain discipline over long periods. Whether the team can regroup in the remaining sessions remains a question that the current squad will have to answer on the field.
