Former Pakistan cricketer and batting coach Mohammad Yousuf has launched a scathing attack on what he called 'so-called coaches' surrounding Babar Azam, accusing them of blocking the Test skipper from correcting technical flaws that have now snowballed into a prolonged batting crisis. The remarks, posted on X on 30 August, came as Babar fell to a familiar dismissal pattern during the first innings of the second Test against England at Lord's.

Yousuf's Damning Indictment

Mohammad Yousuf shared a video on X with a pointed caption: 'A few years ago I warned about this, but unfortunately some so-called coaches around Babar Azam and other players didn't allow him to work on issues that could have been easily resolved. That failure has dragged Pakistan cricket into the decline we see today.'

He went further, calling those coaches 'poison for the game' and warning that misguided counsel could end careers prematurely. 'They lack vision, they block progress, and they misguide even the most talented players. If our cricketers don't learn who to listen to, their careers will end far sooner than they should,' he wrote.

The Technical Flaw Under the Spotlight

Yousuf's criticism was triggered in part by on-air analysis from former England captain Nasser Hussain, who dissected Babar's recurring dismissal pattern — a weakness that has reportedly been visible across tours from England to West Indies. Babar has not scored a Test century since December 2022, despite coming close on several occasions. His similar modes of dismissal have drawn mounting scrutiny from pundits and former players alike.

Yousuf argued the flaw was 'easily correctable' years ago but was left unaddressed due to coaching failures. 'The poor technique of our players has now been brutally exposed from Bangladesh to England. What could have been corrected years ago has instead become a glaring weakness, leaving Pakistan cricket vulnerable and struggling on the international stage,' he added.

Pakistan's Deepening Test Crisis

The broader context amplifies Yousuf's concern. Pakistan have lost nine of their last 10 away matches, with their solitary victory coming against West Indies. In the ongoing Lord's Test, they were bowled out for just 110 in the first innings in reply to England's 290, having already lost the series opener at Headingley. The batting unit's repeated collapses have kept the scrutiny lens firmly trained on the top order.

Babar's Captaincy Rollercoaster

Babar Azam was stripped of the Test captaincy in late 2023 amid poor results. He was reinstated in July 2026 after his successor Shan Masood also failed to arrest the slide. The revolving door at the top has done little to stabilise Pakistan's fortunes, and critics argue that the structural coaching failures Yousuf identifies have persisted through both tenures.

What Comes Next

With the Lord's Test hanging in the balance and the series already under pressure, Pakistan's coaching setup faces renewed calls for accountability. Yousuf's public intervention — from a former batting coach with direct experience of the system — is unlikely to be the last word on a crisis that appears structural rather than cyclical.