Babar Azam has played an average of 7 Test matches per year so far. (Photo: File)
Looking at the future of Babar Azam, one of Pakistan’s most talented cricketers, and his limited number of Test matches, there are quite disturbing figures. A comparison between Babar’s career trajectory and that of other contemporary batsmen such as England’s Jurort, India’s Virat Kohli, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Australia’s Steve Smith highlights a stark contrast.
On the one hand, the low number of achievements that have plagued Babar’s career is a source of disappointment and concern, on the other hand, the role of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a possible hindrance to the development of the game in the country must also be mentioned.
| Babar Azam’s Test Career | |
| age | 28 years |
| Age at debut | 22 years |
| Career duration | 7 years |
| Annual Matches Average | 7 |
| Number of matches | 48 |
| Test runs | 3733 |
| batting average | 47.9 |
That is, Babar has played an average of 7 Test matches every year so far and if he can participate in every Test match during the next four years, he would be 32 years old by then, but according to his current annual average, he would have played at most 75 Test matches.
These figures are in stark contrast to his contemporaries, let’s take a brief comparative look at their careers as well:
| Virat Kohli | |
| age | 28 years |
| Age at debut | 23 years |
| Career duration | 12 years |
| Annual Matches Average | 9 |
| Number of matches | 110 |
| Test runs | 8555 |
| batting average | 48.9 |
| Steve Smith | |
| age | 28 years |
| Age at debut | 21 years |
| Career duration | 13 years |
| Annual Matches Average | 8 |
| Number of matches | 100 |
| Test runs | 9137 |
| batting average | 58.9 |
| Joe Root | |
| age | 28 years |
| Age at debut | 22 years |
| Career duration | 11 years |
| Annual Matches Average | 12 |
| Number of matches | 133 |
| Test runs | 11236 |
| batting average | 50.2 |
| Ken Williamson | |
| age | 28 years |
| Age at debut | 20 years |
| Career duration | 13 years |
| Annual Matches Average | 7 |
| Number of matches | 94 |
| Test runs | 8124 |
| batting average | 54.9 |
Looking at this data, it is known that these four contemporaries of Babar not only started their career at a young age but also got the opportunity to play a fair number of Test matches every year. That is the secret of their better runs or better batting average.
Role of Pakistan Cricket Board
Concerns over PCB’s role are natural as the board’s preference for match schedule and format has been disappointing. By focusing more on shorter formats like T20 cricket, the PCB has been neglecting the importance of Test cricket, which is widely considered to be the highest standard of the game.
It is for this reason that the long-term impact of this approach on not only Babar Azam’s career but the overall development of cricket in Pakistan shows that our assets and institutions are being ruthlessly squandered.
Given the declining quality of red ball cricket in Pakistan’s domestic cricket, this observation further strengthens the argument that the PCB’s focus on limited-overs formats is detrimental to the development of the game in the country. Prioritizing T20 cricket for financial gain risks undermining the strength and competitiveness of the national team in the Test format, ultimately affecting the development of players like Babar Azam.
Positive behavior
There is a need for a balanced approach by the PCB and cricket administrators in Pakistan that recognizes the importance of all formats and ensures proper development of talent in the country. We can only hope for a better future of Pakistan cricket by recognizing emerging talent at the right time and giving them adequate opportunities.
Moreover, by investing in the infrastructure of Red Ball Cricket and providing ample opportunities for players to perform at their best in the Test format, Pakistan can secure the future of talented players like Babar Azam and strengthen its position in international cricket.
Note: Express News and its policy do not necessarily agree with the views of this blogger.
If you also want to write an Urdu blog for us, pick up a pen and write a 800 to 1,200 word essay with your photo, full name, phone number, Facebook and Twitter IDs and a short but concise introduction. [email protected] Email to
(function(d, s, id){
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;}
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3&appId=770767426360150”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.7”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));