Babar Azam Dropped Amid Test Squad Debate

The decision to drop Pakistan's captain Babar Azam from the Test squad against England has sparked significant debate, with former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg dismissing comparisons to Virat Kohli's past struggles as 'baseless'. Fakhar Zaman and many fans argue that Babar should receive similar support to Kohli, who was backed by India during his lean years from 2020 to 2023 despite poor averages. However, Hogg points out that during Kohli's slump, India maintained a high win percentage, unlike Pakistan's current form under Babar. Babar's exclusion follows a series of underwhelming performances, with no half-century in his last 18 innings and a poor showing against England in Multan. This decision also includes the exclusion of pacers Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, with selectors hopeful that a break will help them regain fitness for future series. The move has received mixed reactions, with concerns about its impact on team morale and strategy.