Kamran Akmal warns Babar Azam of potential consequences amid dip in form

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal has raised concerns over Babar Azam's recent form, emphasizing the need for the star batter to address the technical issues that have crept into his game. 

Babar has been struggling to find his rhythm, particularly during the recent Test series against Bangladesh.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Akmal highlighted the technical flaws in Babar's batting that have emerged during this difficult period.

"I still believe Babar is Pakistan's number one batter. Every player goes through a rough patch. But even then, you have to play according to the situation, and you have to survive the tough times," Akmal said. 

Akmal also expressed concern over Babar's shaky approach early in his innings, noting that the batter seems unsure of his off-stump and is leaving his leg stump exposed. 

"What I noticed in this Test series is that early on, when he comes to bat, he plays so shakily that he seems unsure of where his off-stump is, and his leg stump gets exposed from behind. Balls that should be played towards cover are being played straight, and the bat doesn't go towards the ball's direction," he further added.

Akmal attributed these issues to the mounting pressure on Babar due to his lack of recent success.

"There's a difference in his technique because his performance isn't up to the mark, and the pressure is increasing. He needs to fix these small things because this isn't Babar's standard. Babar made his name through his performance. Now, Babar needs to perform, or else he might lose his place in the Test team," he concluded.

It is worth noting that in the two-match series, Babar managed only 64 runs across four innings, averaging a mere 16. This dip in form coincided with Pakistan's historic 0-2 series defeat, marking the first time the team lost a Test series to Bangladesh.