Former Pakistan Test opener Sadiq Mohammad has highlighted several technical issues in Babar Azam's batting, pointing to early shot selection, footwork, and judgment outside the off stump as key areas for improvement. Drawing on his own playing experience, Sadiq offered specific recommendations to help Pakistan's premier batsman rediscover his scoring consistency across formats.
Sadiq noted that Babar often plays shots too early with the bat away from his body, which leads to vulnerable edges behind square. He also observed that the right-hander's back foot frequently touches the off-stump line at the point of contact, giving bowlers an opportunity to exploit the sixth-stump channel with away-swinging deliveries.
To address these challenges, Sadiq suggested that Babar adjust his guard from the leg stump to the fourth-leg stump. He recommended moving his right back foot towards a position between the leg and middle stumps as the bowler approaches the umpire, a change designed to encourage bowlers to target the stumps rather than bowl wide.
The former Gloucestershire county cricketer also addressed contact points and weight distribution during drives. He explained that making contact roughly six inches away from the front foot causes the bat face to open, resulting in aerial shots towards gully and backward point rather than controlled drives along the ground.
Furthermore, Sadiq emphasized the importance of full weight transfer onto the front foot and watching the ball closely into the bat. He believes that implementing these adjustments through dedicated net sessions will enable Babar to direct both attacking and defensive strokes firmly towards the front of square.
Despite pointing out these technical shortcomings, Sadiq expressed strong confidence in the world-class batter's ability to overcome his recent slump. He encouraged Babar to apply the suggested changes in his upcoming fixtures to reclaim his dominant form at the international level.
This analysis follows recent comments from former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf, who suggested that Babar should spend time working on his technique in English and Australian conditions. While acknowledging Yousuf's views, Sadiq provided his own perspective based on his extensive experience as a Test opening batsman.
Babar remains a central figure in Pakistan's batting lineup across all formats, and coaching staff will be monitoring any technical refinements closely. Pakistan's upcoming international schedule will provide the immediate platform for the star batsman to test these suggested adjustments under match conditions.
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