Babar Azam Dropped from Pakistan Second Test, Fans Mock - Will See Him Play in Legends League

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Babar Azam, one of Pakistan's most celebrated cricketers, has been dropped from the squad for the second Test against England. This decision comes after Pakistan's crushing defeat in the first Test at Multan, where Babar's poor form continued to raise concerns.

He managed just 30 and 5 in the two innings, despite playing on a flat, batting-friendly pitch. His prolonged slump with the bat has been a key factor in the decision made by Pakistan's newly-formed selection committee.

Fans quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their reactions. One fan tweeted, "What if Pakistan wins the second Test match after dropping Babar Azam?" Another commented on Babar's absence, saying, "Due to the absence of Babar Azam, the team will be further down."

Some fans even joked about his future prospects, with one tweet stating, "We will soon see Babar Azam playing Legends League against Irfan Pathan and Pawan Negi from India." The selection committee, led by Aleem Dar and including members such as Aaqib Javed and Azhar Ali, met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi and other mentors on Saturday.

After deliberations, the committee opted to exclude Babar, despite internal divisions. While some members were in favor of giving him another opportunity, the majority felt that a break could help Babar regain his form. Notably, neither captain Shan Masood nor head coach Jason Gillespie were involved in the initial selection meeting.

Babar Azam's decline in Test cricket has been a growing concern for Pakistan. He has not scored a Test half-century since December 2022 and has averaged just 21 across his last nine matches. His last century in any format came in an ODI against Nepal in August 2023.

With such underwhelming numbers, pressure mounted on the selectors to take action. However, Pakistan captain Shan Masood publicly backed Babar after the first Test defeat. He called him "Pakistan's best batter" and urged patience, while coach Jason Gillespie echoed similar sentiments.

Despite the support from his captain and coach, the selection committee ultimately decided to drop Babar. As Pakistan heads into the second Test without its former captain and star batter, the decision has sparked intense debate among fans and analysts alike.