Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag recently shared his views on Pakistan batter Babar Azam’s performance, taking a dig at his recent struggles in international cricket. Sehwag suggested that Babar needs to focus on improving his fitness and mental strength to regain his form. Speaking on Shoaib Akhtar’s YouTube channel, Sehwag mentioned that Babar should take a break from international cricket and play domestic matches to work on his fitness and mental well-being.

Virender Sehwag emphasized that the former Pakistan captain’s current issues seem to be more mental than technical.

According to him, Babar has been affected by the pressure of expectations and his recent resignation from captaincy. Sehwag added that Babar is a talented player who can bounce back quickly if he stays mentally strong and physically fit.

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Pakistan’s Bold Selection Move and Ghulam’s Performance

Ahead of the second Test match against England in Multan, Pakistan’s selection committee surprised many by dropping Babar Azam for the final two long-format matches of the series. Kamran Ghulam, a batting all-rounder, was handed his maiden Test cap and stepped in to fill Babar’s spot as Pakistan looked to level the series.

Despite initial criticism from fans, Ghulam played a crucial role in the Test match. He displayed great resilience against England’s strong bowling attack, scoring an impressive 118 off 124 deliveries to keep Pakistan in the game.

While Ghulam’s knock set the tone for Pakistan, it was their spin duo, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan, who dominated the match. The pair took all 20 wickets in the second Test, leaving England stunned. Sajid shined in the first innings with figures of 7/111, while Noman stole the show in the second innings with a remarkable 8/46.

With a 125-run victory, Pakistan leveled the series 1-1, and the final match of the series is set to take place in Rawalpindi on October 24.

The 38-year-old shared his decision in a video on social media. Dhawan hasn’t played for the Indian men’s national team since their 2022 tour of Bangladesh.

“As I close this chapter of my cricketing journey, I take with me many memories and a lot of gratitude. Thank you for all the love and support! Jai Hind!,” Shikhar Dhawan said in the video.

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“It’s important to move on in life, and that’s why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket. I leave with peace in my heart, knowing I played for India for so long,” he added.

Dhawan made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2010, playing 167 matches and scoring 6793 runs, including 17 centuries.

He played his first Test match in 2013 against Australia at Mohali and scored a century in his debut. He went on to play 33 more Test matches for India, scoring a total of 2315 runs.