On a gloomy morning at Edgbaston, Babar Azam walked in to bat with Pakistan already reeling at three wickets down within the first 45 minutes of the Test. The conditions were dire, with rain threatening and the floodlights on, setting the stage for a challenging innings.

Once celebrated as one of the world's top batters, Babar's recent form has been concerning. In 2022, he achieved remarkable scores, including 196 against Australia and 161 against New Zealand, finishing the year with a Test average of 49. However, since then, he has not scored a Test hundred, with his highest score in the last 20 Tests being just 88 and an average of 29.

As Babar faced Ollie Robinson, uncertainty plagued his technique. After a few tentative shots, he was ultimately bowled by Josh Tongue for just seven runs off 18 balls. This was part of a grim series for Pakistan, who have struggled to reach respectable totals, with innings scores of 171, 135, 110, 194, and now 133.

Adding to the turmoil, Babar revealed he was unaware of the management’s decision to send seven new players for the match, highlighting disorganization within the team. One of the newcomers, Razaullah, made a notable debut, impressing with his pace and talent. He claimed his first international wicket by dismissing Joe Root LBW and later took out Emilio Gay with a fierce delivery.

Despite the emergence of young talent like Razaullah, questions loom over the future of Pakistan cricket and Babar’s leadership. Fans are left wondering about the potential of these players in a system that has historically struggled to nurture talent effectively.