Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf has criticised coaches working around the national team, accusing them of failing to correct technical shortcomings in the batting of Babar Azam and several other players.
In a strongly worded social media post on Sunday, Yousuf claimed he had identified flaws in the techniques of Pakistan’s batters several years ago, but was unable to work on them because some coaches associated with Babar and other members of the team stood in the way.
According to Yousuf, issues that could have been addressed at an earlier stage have since developed into serious weaknesses and played a part in Pakistan’s recent struggles.
“That failure has dragged Pakistan cricket into the decline we see today,” Yousuf wrote.
“These coaches are poison for the game. They lack vision, they block progress, and they misguide even the most talented players. If our cricketers don’t learn who to listen to, their careers will end far sooner than they should.”
The former batter also said the technical deficiencies of Pakistan’s players had now been exposed in different conditions, from Bangladesh to England.
“What could have been corrected years ago has instead become a glaring weakness, leaving Pakistan cricket vulnerable and struggling on the international stage,” Yousuf added.
Yousuf had stepped down from his role as batting coach with the Pakistan Cricket Board in July last year.
Pakistan’s recent run of poor results and repeated batting collapses, including its defeat in the first Test at Leeds during the ongoing tour of England, has sparked growing criticism from former players.
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The debate has also spilled over on social media and into mainstream media, with several former Pakistan cricketers publicly questioning players and officials.
Former batter Muhammad Wasim, who served as Pakistan’s chief selector between 2020 and 2022, also raised questions over Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury during the second Test at Lord’s.
Published on Aug 30, 2026
