Rashid Latif, former captain of Pakistan, has recently voiced some serious concerns about the mental health of star batter Babar Azam. The former wicket-keeper suggested that the pressures of captaincy might be taking a toll on Babar’s batting performance.
In a recent chat, Latif hinted that Babar Azam might be struggling mentally after being abruptly stripped of his captaincy role last year. Latif believes that this added pressure could be affecting Babar’s mindset when he’s out in the middle.
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Is Mental Pressure Hampering Babar’s Game?
Babar Azam was asked to resign from captaincy last year by then-PCB head Zaka Ashraf after Pakistan’s first round exit from the ODI World Cup in India. Babar resigned from the captaincy of all three formats and played as a specialist batter during subsequent series against Australia and New Zealand.
However, the current PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi reappointed Babar as the captain of white-ball teams ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.
According to Rashid Latif, Babar is still a top-notch batter, however, these constant changes and captaincy burden has affected the mental health of star batter.
“Mental issues seem to be the bigger problem here. Let’s not forget, he was removed as captain under tough circumstances. When your mind isn’t in the right place, it messes with your game. You end up trying too hard with every ball,” Latif explained in his interview.
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It looks like Latif thinks that Babar’s struggle isn’t about his technique but more about the mental pressure he’s facing.
The Heavy Burden of Leadership
Latif’s comments really spotlight how leadership can mess with a player’s mental state. He stresses that Babar’s dip in form isn’t about his batting skills; it’s more about the mental strain he’s dealing with.
“The problem seems to be more about mental stress than about technique. It’s clear that the guy is struggling with a lot of mental pressure,” Latif added.
So, what’s next for Babar? Rashid Latif thinks the way forward might be to let go of the leadership role. If Babar can focus on his game and ease off the mental load, he could find his confidence again.
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