Moin Khan advises Babar Azam to stay mentally strong amid growing criticism

Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan has advised Babar Azam to develop greater mental resilience as mounting pressure continues to surround the star cricketer.

In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Moin acknowledged Babar's exceptional talent but emphasized that his leadership has yet to yield a major tournament victory, a factor that could be adding to his struggles on the field.

"No doubt, Babar Azam is an extraordinary cricketer, but under his leadership, Pakistan has not won any major events, and that must add extra pressure on him," Moin said.

Speaking about Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the recent World Cup, Moin expressed his disappointment, stating that Pakistan's early exit was a result of substandard performances. 

"In the World Cup, Pakistan's performance was so subpar that we were knocked out in the first round. Even a team like the USA, playing its first World Cup, defeated us.We couldn’t chase a modest target against India," he further added.

Moin stressed the significance of mental strength in such situations, particularly when facing long-standing rivals like India.

"There's always added pressure in a match against our arch-rivals, and after losing, you need to make a strong comeback. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like Babar delivered an extraordinary performance to silence the critics," Moin said.

The former captain pointed out that the only way for Babar to counter the growing criticism is through his performance on the field. 

"The ground is the only place where you can show your worth by playing well. Babar needs to become mentally strong and take the criticism positively; otherwise, he’ll keep sinking into problems and won’t be able to perform," he concluded.