‘I don’t think Babar Azam should be playing’ – Mohammad Yousuf urges academy stint in England or Australia for Pakistan star

Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf has publicly urged that Babar Azam be sent to a specialist coaching academy in England or Australia rather than playing domestic cricket. Yousuf argued on social media platform X that continued struggles in first-class cricket could harm Babar's confidence and career, emphasizing that specialized coaching abroad is needed to correct unresolved technical batting issues.

Yousuf noted he previously raised the issue four years ago without response. The recommendation follows Babar's prolonged struggles across formats, including scoring 34 runs and a duck in Pakistan's October 2026 ODI tri-series matches against England and Sri Lanka, alongside an unsettled domestic stint with OGDCL in the President's Trophy.