Babar Azam open to learning from Mohammad Yousuf ahead of Pakistan's first Test

Pakistan captain Babar Azam said he would be willing to learn from former batter Mohammad Yousuf at a press conference ahead of Pakistan's first Test against Sri Lanka on November 8, 2026. Yousuf had recommended that Babar travel to Australia and England, train at a specialised cricket academy overseas and temporarily step away from first-class cricket to address technical issues affecting his batting.

Mohammad Yousuf had publicly raised concerns about Babar's recent form and urged corrective action, warning that continuing to struggle in domestic cricket without fixing technical flaws could take a toll on the batter's confidence and potentially have a lasting impact on his career. Babar responded to those recommendations at the pre-Test press conference and expressed respect for Yousuf's standing in Pakistan cricket.

"As you said, the process of learning never ends. I haven't contacted him yet. I believe he has reached out to people on social media, but not to me. If he contacts me, God willing, I will learn from him. He is a legend and Pakistan's greatest batter," said Babar, as quoted by GeoSuper.

On the subject of his recent dismissals, Babar outlined that there are multiple reasons a batter can lose his wicket and accepted that getting out is an inherent part of the game. "You can get out at any time and in different ways. It is not necessary that you will always get out in the same pattern or in the same manner. There can be different reasons, but that is part of the game," he stated.

Babar also placed personal accountability at the centre of his response to criticism, saying he treats each dismissal as his own shortcoming rather than seeking external explanations. "In my case, whenever I get out, I consider it my fault. It is my responsibility and my shortcomings. Everyone has their own perspective and way of thinking," he added.

Babar will have a chance to get back into form as the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Test series will get underway on Monday, November 9.