‘These coaches are poison’; Mohammad Yousuf slams Pakistan setup over Babar Azam’s technique

Former Pakistan batter and captain Mohammad Yousuf has slammed the current crop of Pakistan players as he raised questions over the playing technique of Babar Azam and his teammates.

On social media, Yousuf launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan players and also slammed the coaches who never bothered to correct the glaring mistakes in the players’ style and technique.

Taking to X, Yousuf wrote, “Few years ago I warned about this, but unfortunately some so called coaches around Babar Azam & other players didn’t allow him to work on issues that could have been easily resolved. That failure has dragged Pakistan cricket into the decline we see today. These coaches are poison for the game.”

Few years ago I warned about this, but unfortunately some so called coaches around #Babarazam & other players didn’t allow him to work on issues that could have been easily resolved. That failure has dragged Pakistan cricket into the decline we see today.

These coaches are… pic.twitter.com/Go9kNc7abu

— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) August 30, 2026

“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 poor technique of our players has now been brutally exposed 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,” he added.

Babar scored 6 and 8 in the Lord’s Test, extending his wait for a Test century to 36 innings, a drought stretching back to December 2022.

Pakistan’s tour of England has proved difficult on the field so far. England won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, bowling Pakistan out for 171 and 135 after posting 366 for 8 in their only innings. Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue each took five wickets in the match, while Harry Brook top-scored for England with 91.

England then wrapped up the series with a 194-run win in the second Test at Lord’s, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead with one match to play. Robinson finished with match figures of 8 for 35, and Jofra Archer picked up five wickets across the two innings. Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas claimed a five-wicket haul in the second innings and nine wickets in the match, but his effort could not save the Greenshirts from defeat.

Saud Shakeel fought hardest for Pakistan with a knock of 97 in the final innings.

Yousuf, who scored 7,530 Test runs in 90 matches with 24 centuries during his own playing career, has previously worked with the Pakistan team as a batting coach.