Babar Azam is yet to score a Test fifty since December 2022, and there have been questions around his T20 strike rate. Over the same period of time, he resigned as Pakistan captain in all three formats in November 2023, only to be reinstated as limited-overs captain a few months later.

Younis: Babar was the best player of the side when he was made captain

Younis Khan advised Babar to switch his focus from the captaincy conundrum to his own performance. He reminded the media of the time Babar was made captain the first time, in 2019: “There were not many options, and he was the best player of the side. The PCB chair decided in my presence that the best cricketer of the side should be named the captain.”

The leading run-scorer in Test cricket in Pakistan history, Younis was not happy with the contemporary cricketers speaking as much as they do: “Your performance should speak, not you. Today’s cricketers speak too often. Speaking is best left to us, the former cricketers. They should focus on the cricket.

“You should focus on cricket. You have to perform everywhere because the expectations are high. You should focus more on cricket. Use social media, but your bat and ball should be your primary tools to answer every question.”

At the same time, he requested the media to manage their expectations: “We expect Babar Azam to hit a hundred every time he bats, and we have a problem every time he does not get a hundred.” However, he also recalled his own playing days: “When you [media] criticised me, I would keep the newspaper clippings in front of me. That would motivate me.”

Younis also reminded how former Pakistani greats like Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, and Saeed Anwar would have thrived in the current era of enhanced attention and sponsorships.

Younis: Babar can look up to Virat Kohli

“Focus on your performance and fitness,” added Younis. “Understand that these opportunities [to play for Pakistan] do not come often. When I used to play, I would take up every role the team used to expect of me – be it opening the batting or coming at three or at six. I was never sure of having another a second chance.”

Younis had words of advice for Babar: “He has achieved so much at this age. He needs to focus on the future. Captaincy is a minor in the bigger scheme of things. He has the ability to score 15,000 runs, but for that he has to rise above the controversies around captaincy. He can look up to Virat Kohli, who has stepped down as captain and is now set out to break records.

“You should always play for your team first and, if there is still any energy left, then play for yourself.”

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