'Babar Azam one good innings away from regaining form'

Peshawar Zalmi’s spin coach Mushtaq Ahmed has expressed confidence in Babar Azam, saying the star batter is just one good innings away from finding his rhythm.

In a media interaction, Mushtaq threw his support behind Babar, stating, “Scores of 30 or 40 don’t mean much for a player like him — he needs a big innings.”

Commenting on Babar’s recent struggles, Mushtaq noted that the series of setbacks over the last 18 months — including losing the captaincy, being dropped from the T20I squad, and later being rested from the Test team — took a toll on his mental state. He pointed to mismanagement and lack of clear communication as key reasons behind the dip in confidence.

“He was under pressure. The lack of support during his tough phase didn’t help,” he added.

Mushtaq emphasised that Peshawar Zalmi was fully backing Babar, which could play a key role in helping him bounce back. “He gave five years of consistent performance. Ups and downs are part of a cricketer’s journey. But bad performance will only make him stronger,” the former cricketer said.

Discussing Zalmi's approach in the ongoing T20 campaign, Mushtaq stressed the importance of dominating the powerplay and building a playing XI based on match conditions. “If we play well in the powerplay, we can beat any team,” he said. He also hinted at possibly including both left-arm spinners in the lineup depending on the pitch.

Mushtaq praised the role of spinners in recent Pakistan Super League (PSL) X matches and said spinners can be game-changers, even if they go for a few sixes. “If a spinner is taking wickets, even with sixes, he’s doing his job,” he noted.

However, he lamented the decline in bowling standards, blaming the lack of quality practice sessions in Pakistan. “Batters have improved in international cricket, but bowlers haven’t kept up,” he concluded.

It may be noted that Babar-led Zalmi are set to take on Multan Sultans in a PSL match today in Rawalpindi. None of the teams have won a single match in the ongoing season of the country's premier league cricket.