Pakistan’s crushing 194-run defeat to England in the second Test at Lord’s has reignited a fierce debate over the team’s leadership and senior batting resilience. Chasing an imposing target of 389, the visitors capitulated under pressure, leaving their premier batsman, Babar Azam, at the epicentre of heavy criticism.
Babar had entered the fixture following a recovery from a hand injury, deemed roughly ninety percent fit by team management. However, his output on the pitch failed to reflect any semblance of his best form. After scraping together 8 runs in the first innings, he managed a meager 6 in the second, failing to anchor a fragile batting order when stability was paramount. His early departure compounded an already desperate situation for the tourists, sealing an unassailable 2-0 series deficit with a match to spare.
Speaking on his digital show, former Test batsman Basit Ali did not mince his words when evaluating Babar’s big-match temperament. Questioning the criteria used to define modern greatness, Basit argued that true icons cannot be measured by digital popularity or social media applause. Pointing to legendary figures from Pakistan’s cricketing past such as Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Hk, Younis Khan, and Saeed Anwar, he emphasized that genuine match-winners earn their reputation by delivering under intense pressure when their side faces crisis.
The criticism is deeply anchored in a prolonged slump in the longest format. Babar has not reached three figures in Test cricket since his 161-run knock against New Zealand in Karachi back in December 2022. Over his last sixteen Test appearances, his average has plummeted to 30.53, dragging his overall career average down to 43. Basit expressed acute frustration that a player carrying the nation’s batting hopes continues to squander opportunities with casual dismissals when the team’s collective gaze is fixed upon him.
The backlash extended well beyond the former captain. Saud Shakeel offered the primary resistance during the second innings, crafting a gritty 97 before falling to a short delivery from Josh Tongue while attempting to accelerate. Basit took firm exception to the manner of that dismissal, noting that the batsman played straight into a well-set trap with multiple fielders patrolling the boundary. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan also faced scathing remarks for a loose stroke that yielded just 1 run, with the former player questioning whether the shot selection belonged in international red-ball cricket.
The touring side now faces a swift transition to the final fixture of the series. The third and final Test is scheduled to begin at Edgbaston on 9 September. While the series trophy is already beyond reach, the upcoming match offers Babar and the senior leadership group a critical window to salvage personal pride, snap a lengthy century drought, and restore credibility to a misfiring batting unit.