Babar Azam open to learning from Mohammad Yousuf amid form slump
Synopsis
Mohammad Yousuf publicly urged the PCB on X to send a struggling Babar Azam to a cricket academy in England or Australia — and Babar, speaking at a press conference ahead of the Sri Lanka Test, said he would be willing to learn from the legend, though no direct contact has yet been made.
Key Takeaways
Babar Azam said he is open to learning from Mohammad Yousuf after the former batter called for specialised overseas coaching for Pakistan's Test captain.
Yousuf posted on X urging the PCB to send Babar to an academy in England or Australia , adding he had raised the same point four years ago .
Babar confirmed Yousuf had not contacted him directly and said he would learn from him if approached.
Babar defended his recent dismissals, saying getting out in different ways is 'part of the game' .
The remarks came at a press conference ahead of Pakistan's opening Test against Sri Lanka .
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has expressed willingness to learn from former batting great Mohammad Yousuf, who recently called on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to send the struggling right-hander to a specialised coaching academy in England or Australia to fix his technical issues. Babar made the remarks at a press conference ahead of Pakistan's opening Test against Sri Lanka on 8 November 2026.
What Yousuf Said
Yousuf, one of Pakistan's most accomplished Test batters, used his X account to publicly urge the PCB to intervene. 'I don't think Babar Azam should be playing first-class cricket until he fixes his technical issues through specialised coaching. Struggling in domestic cricket could further harm his confidence and career,' Yousuf wrote.
He went further, arguing that the former Pakistan captain's standing in the game made the investment worthwhile. '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. I said this four years ago, and nobody listened. Please listen now,' he added in the same post.
Babar's Response
Babar said he welcomed the idea in principle but noted that Yousuf had not contacted him directly. 'As you said, the process of learning never ends. I haven't contacted him yet. I believe he has reached out to people on social media, but not to me. If he contacts me, God willing, I will learn from him. He is a legend and Pakistan's greatest batter,' Babar was quoted as saying.
The statement reflects a notably measured tone from a batter who has faced mounting scrutiny over what critics describe as recurring technical vulnerabilities. Notably, this is not the first time Yousuf has publicly suggested specialist overseas coaching for Babar — his own account confirms he raised the same concern four years ago without a formal response from cricket administrators.
Babar on His Recent Dismissals
When pressed on the pattern of his recent dismissals, Babar pushed back against the idea of a single recurring flaw. 'You can get out at any time and in different ways. It is not necessary that you will always get out in the same pattern or in the same manner. There can be different reasons, but that is part of the game,' he stated.
He also took personal ownership of his failures rather than deflecting. 'In my case, whenever I get out, I consider it my fault. It is my responsibility and my shortcomings. Everyone has their own perspective and way of thinking,' he added.
Wider Context
Babar's batting form has been a subject of sustained debate in Pakistan cricket circles for several months. The call for overseas specialist coaching is unusual in its directness, particularly coming from a player of Yousuf's stature, who aggregated over 7,500 Test runs during his career. With Pakistan and Sri Lanka set for a full Test series, the spotlight on Babar's technical fitness will only intensify over the coming weeks.
Point of View
Even for a former great. That Babar's response was gracious rather than defensive suggests he understands the weight of the concern. The more substantive question mainstream coverage is glossing over is institutional: if Yousuf raised this four years ago and was ignored, the problem may be less Babar's technique and more the PCB's reluctance to invest in bespoke remedial work for its top players. Pakistan cricket has historically treated such public criticism as noise rather than signal.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mohammad Yousuf suggest for Babar Azam?
Mohammad Yousuf urged the PCB to send Babar Azam to a cricket academy in England or Australia for specialised coaching to help him fix his technical batting issues. He also suggested Babar should temporarily avoid first-class cricket until those flaws are resolved.
How did Babar Azam respond to Yousuf's coaching suggestion?
Babar welcomed the idea, calling Yousuf 'a legend and Pakistan's greatest batter,' and said he would be willing to learn from him if contacted directly. He noted that Yousuf had reached out on social media but had not approached him personally.
Where did Babar Azam make these comments?
Babar made these remarks at a press conference held ahead of Pakistan's opening Test match against Sri Lanka on 8 November 2026.
What has Babar said about his recent dismissals?
Babar argued that being dismissed in different ways is a natural part of cricket and not necessarily evidence of a single technical flaw. He added that whenever he gets out, he considers it his own fault and his personal responsibility.
How long has Yousuf been raising concerns about Babar's technique?
According to Yousuf's own post on X, he raised the same concern about Babar needing specialised overseas coaching four years ago but was not heeded by Pakistan cricket administrators.
