London: Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has launched a sharp attack on Babar Azam following his disappointing performance in the second Test against England at Lord’s, questioning the star batter’s ability to deliver when Pakistan need him most.

Babar scored only eight and six in the two innings of the Lord’s Test, which Pakistan lost to England on Sunday. His latest failure has once again brought scrutiny on the former Pakistan captain, who has gone nearly four years without scoring a Test century.

Basit Ali, speaking on The Game Plan, was particularly critical of Babar’s record in difficult conditions. He argued that a player cannot be regarded as one of Pakistan’s all-time greats merely because of popularity, fan following or social media reputation.

The former Pakistan batter’s comments have added to the growing debate around Babar’s place among Pakistan’s leading modern-day cricketers.

Basit Ali questions Babar’s record

Basit did not hold back while discussing Babar’s recent performances.

He argued that Pakistan’s greatest players established their reputation by producing performances during difficult periods rather than only succeeding when conditions were favourable.

“I’m not even talking about Sachin Tendulkar. I’m talking about my own countrymen. When you don’t do anything in difficult times, what’s the point?” Basit said.

He then directly referred to Babar, suggesting that the batter’s reputation among supporters and on social media has not been matched consistently by performances in challenging situations.

Basit said Babar was “great” among his fan following and on social media, but questioned whether his record justified placing him among Pakistan’s greatest players.

The remarks came after another disappointing Test outing for Babar at Lord’s.

Babar fails to make an impact at Lord’s

Babar returned to Pakistan’s Test XI for the Lord’s match after missing the first Test at Leeds because of injury.

However, his comeback did not produce the impact Pakistan would have hoped for.

He was dismissed for eight in the first innings before scoring only six in the second. His failures came at a crucial stage of the series, with Pakistan needing their senior batters to produce substantial contributions against England.

The Lord’s Test ultimately ended in a heavy defeat for Pakistan, increasing pressure on the team’s batting unit.

Babar’s performance was particularly disappointing because of his previous record in England.

Before this match, he had averaged 65.75 across six Test innings in England and had scored three half-centuries. Against England overall, he had averaged 53.83 in 14 innings and had registered either a fifty or a century in seven of those outings.

His Lord’s scores therefore represented a significant departure from what he had previously achieved against the English attack.

Nearly four years without a Test century

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Babar is his prolonged wait for a Test hundred.

According to NDTV, Babar has not scored a century in Test cricket for nearly four years.

For a batter who has carried enormous expectations throughout his international career, the drought has become increasingly difficult to ignore.

Babar did score 322 runs in eight Tests during 2026 before the Lord’s match, but his performances have not always translated into major contributions when Pakistan have faced difficult conditions.

Basit highlighted this particular issue while criticising the batter.

“When will you do it? I’m talking about Babar [Azam]. I’ll take his name. He hasn’t scored a (Test) hundred in four years. When will you do it?” Basit said.

He also expressed his frustration at Babar’s dismissal in the Lord’s Test, arguing that Pakistan’s batting depended heavily on him.

Pakistan’s batting depends heavily on Babar

Babar remains one of the most important batters in Pakistan’s line-up.

Although his role and position in the team have changed over recent years, expectations around him remain extremely high.

When senior players fail, Pakistan can quickly come under pressure because the team has often relied on individual contributions to build competitive totals.

Basit specifically pointed towards this responsibility, saying the situation was painful because the country’s batting depended on Babar.

The criticism reflects a wider issue facing Pakistan cricket: the need for experienced batters to take responsibility during difficult matches.

Against England at Lord’s, Pakistan were unable to get the required stability from their top order, leaving the team vulnerable against an England side that capitalised on the situation.

Babar had been in good form against West Indies

The criticism comes despite Babar showing encouraging form in the series immediately before the England Tests.

In the preceding series against the West Indies, Babar was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer.

He scored 193 runs at an average of 96.50 and registered two half-centuries.

Those performances had provided hope that Babar could carry his form into the England series.

However, his injury kept him out of the Leeds Test, and his return at Lord’s produced only 14 runs across both innings.

The contrast between his performances against the West Indies and England has once again raised questions about whether Babar can consistently perform when conditions become more demanding.

England conditions provide a major challenge

Batting in England can be particularly difficult because of movement in the air and off the pitch.

The Dukes ball can also offer assistance to fast bowlers, especially when conditions are favourable.

Pakistan’s batters faced an England attack capable of exploiting those conditions, making discipline and shot selection particularly important.

Babar’s dismissal in the Lord’s Test therefore became a major talking point.

Basit’s criticism was not simply about the number of runs scored. It was about the manner in which a senior player responds when the team requires him to withstand pressure.

For Pakistan, the issue is not whether Babar can score runs in favourable circumstances. It is whether he can consistently produce match-defining performances when the opposition and conditions are at their strongest.

The ‘greatness’ debate returns

Babar’s status as one of Pakistan’s leading modern batters has been debated for several years.

His international statistics, particularly in white-ball cricket, have earned him enormous recognition.

However, comparisons with Pakistan’s legendary batters have become increasingly complicated because Test performances have not matched the standards expected from him.

Basit’s comments have therefore reignited an old debate over what should define greatness.

For some supporters, career numbers, consistency and international achievements are enough to establish a player’s status.

Others believe performances in difficult conditions and major pressure situations should carry greater weight.

Basit clearly belongs to the second school of thought.

Babar’s record against England remains strong

Despite the Lord’s disappointment, Babar’s overall record against England remains respectable.

Before the second Test, he had scored either a fifty or a century in seven of his 14 Test innings against England.

His average of 53.83 against the team also demonstrated that he has previously been capable of succeeding against English bowling.

His record in England was even stronger, with an average of 65.75 across six innings and three half-centuries.

This makes the Lord’s performance more difficult to assess as evidence of a permanent decline.

A single poor Test cannot erase years of international performances, but the continued absence of a Test century has increased the scrutiny around him.

Pakistan need Babar to respond

The most effective response to criticism for any batter is usually to score runs.

Babar now has an opportunity to answer his critics with his bat.

Pakistan will need experienced players to step up if they are to improve their Test performances against strong opponents.

For Babar, the immediate priority will be to regain confidence, build long innings and convert starts into major scores.

A Test century would not only end a lengthy drought but could also change the narrative surrounding his current form.

Pressure increases after Lord’s defeat

The timing of Basit Ali’s comments is significant because Pakistan are already facing pressure after their defeat at Lord’s.

A poor performance from a senior batter inevitably attracts attention, particularly when that player is regarded as one of the team’s most important figures.

Pakistan’s management will need to assess how best to use Babar and how to provide greater support around him.

The batter, meanwhile, will have to deal with the expectations that have followed him throughout his career.

The criticism may be harsh, but it reflects the standards attached to a player of Babar’s stature.

Conclusion

Babar Azam has once again found himself at the centre of debate after a disappointing performance in Pakistan’s Lord’s Test defeat against England.

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali criticised Babar for failing to produce significant performances in difficult conditions and questioned whether his reputation as a great player is supported by his recent Test record.

Babar scored eight and six at Lord’s and has now gone nearly four years without a Test century. However, he had been Pakistan’s leading run-scorer against the West Indies immediately before the England series, scoring 193 runs at an average of 96.50.

His overall record against England also remains strong, with an average of 53.83 in 14 Test innings before the Lord’s match.

The criticism therefore presents Babar with another challenge. His reputation has been built over many years, but his next major innings could be crucial in determining whether the current narrative around his Test career changes.

For Pakistan, the need is straightforward: their senior batters must turn experience into runs when the team faces its toughest challenges. For Babar, the best answer to Basit Ali and his other critics will be a decisive performance with the bat.