Babar Azam’s last half-century in Test cricket dates back to December 2022, a near two-year period that has seen his form in the longest format decline dramatically.

Babar Azam has not hit a fifty-plus score in the last 17 innings. He was dismissed for 30 after making a decent start on the flat track of Multan against England. Pakistan ended the opening day strong on 328/4 with Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique hitting centuries.

Pakistan Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel wants to focus on his team's performance in the upcoming series against England rather than fret on premier batter Babar Azam's decision to step down from white ball captaincy.