Pakistan captain Babar Azam pushed back on the idea that his team’s Test batting struggles are being driven by mental strain, insisting the side is simply failing to execute once wickets begin to tumble. Pakistan were dismissed for 232 on the second day of the second Test in Sylhet, with Bangladesh applying pressure through disciplined bowling. Bangladesh then carried that momentum into the chase for a larger advantage, reaching 110 for 3 in their second innings and taking an overall lead of 156 after another strong all-round showing.
Key takeaways
- Babar Azam said Pakistan are not facing “mental baggage,” but are falling short in execution as batters.
- Pakistan’s last-10 Test record includes six defeats, with repeated batting collapses cited as a major factor.
- Bangladesh restricted Pakistan to 232 on day two in Sylhet and later made 110 for 3 in their second innings.
- Babar identified his wicket and Salman Ali Agha’s dismissal as a key turning point that prevented longer partnerships.
- He said the team is actively discussing how to break the cycle of back-to-back wickets after early breakthroughs.
- Babar rejected the notion that Nahid Rana is “unplayable,” despite the pacer dismissing him three times across two venues.
Babar’s message: the issue is execution, not mindset
Speaking on Sunday, May 17, Babar argued that Pakistan’s batting problems are not rooted in any psychological barrier. He said the side has been competing in the longest format for a long time and believes the real concern is how the batters are carrying out plans when they are at the crease. In his view, Pakistan are often getting small partnerships, but Test cricket demands more sustained stands to prevent momentum from shifting after wickets fall.
Why partnerships have broken down
Babar pointed to specific moments during the Sylhet Test, stating that the turning point arrived with his dismissal and the wicket of Salman Ali Agha. After those two wickets, he said Pakistan could not rebuild partnerships at the level required in Test cricket, where teams typically need two or three meaningful periods of batting to stabilize the innings.
He also highlighted a recurring pattern: whenever a wicket is lost, the next dismissal often arrives quickly, leaving little time for recovery. Babar stressed that the batting unit needs to shoulder more responsibility and be willing to “take a bit of pain” as batters adjust to conditions and bowling pressure, with the goal of stopping the slide once momentum has shifted.
He added that a similar scenario unfolded during the current game as well—Pakistan appeared to be in a position to move forward, only for one partnership to rupture, after which the same problem repeated itself.
Work to break the collapse cycle
Babar said the squad has been discussing practical ways to address the repeated collapses. He questioned whether the underlying issue is focus during key phases, and explained that the approach is to break any mental barrier through communication. According to him, players speak among themselves, and the coaching group is also involved in figuring out how to improve. The plan, he said, is to make sure that whenever a batter gets out, both the incoming player and the set batter concentrate even harder to protect the next phase of the innings.
Nahid Rana: Babar still believes he’s manageable
Babar also dismissed suggestions that Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana is unplayable, despite the young quick troubling him repeatedly in recent Tests. Rana has dismissed Babar three times in as many matches—twice in Rawalpindi and once in Sylhet—and Babar acknowledged the threat while refusing to treat it as an insurmountable problem.
He said he does not believe Rana is unplayable, noting that Rana is among the fastest bowlers in red-ball cricket at the moment. Babar added that, in general, most teams have a bowler in the 140–150 kph range, meaning batters must learn to handle that pace rather than react as if it is unique. He said he tries to play his natural game, accepting that sometimes runs come and sometimes wickets follow.
Concluding his comments, Babar praised Rana’s talent and emphasized that his pace is the main weapon. He also said the pacer’s control has been improving day by day and wished him well for the future.
