Shan Masood backs Babar, recommends a break to rediscover form

Babar, recently omitted from the Test squad after a challenging series against England, is set to return to the fold for Pakistan's upcoming white-ball series against Australia.

Speaking on the BBC’s Stumped podcast, Shan highlighted Babar’s undeniable talent and potential, noting the benefits of taking a break to refresh and refocus. "He’s among the world’s best batsmen. I’m in no position to question his future. Babar has every attribute needed to become one of Test cricket’s greats,” Shan said.

Despite his recent struggles at the crease, Shan remains confident that a short hiatus from cricket will serve Babar well. "Taking a step back occasionally is natural. He’s played a lot, faced immense challenges, and remains one of our core players. This breather could bring him back stronger," Shan added.

Babar’s dip in form has been a point of conversation within the cricketing community, which also eventually forced him to relinquish his captaincy last month. The 30-year-old also struggled during Pakistan's first Test against England, scoring just 35 runs and was then dropped from the second and third Test sides.

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja also weighed in, suggesting Babar’s difficulties stem from mental, rather than technical, challenges.

“Babar’s technique is sound, but his temperament in Test cricket may need adjustment,” Ramiz explained. He pointed out that Babar occasionally struggles with deliveries pitched on a back-of-a-length and has shown some vulnerability against spin. “His issues seem more about the mental side of the game than technical flaws.”

Pakistan's white-ball tour of Australia begins on 4 November in Melbourne. The team is set to play three ODIs, followed by as many T20Is, ending on 18 November.

ODI squad for Australia: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah(WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan(WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi

T20I squad for Australia: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah(WK), Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan(WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan