Mohammad Yousuf calls Pakistan coaches 'poison' as Babar Azam and team struggle in England

Former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf launched a sharp public attack on Pakistan's coaching setup on August 30, accusing those around Babar Azam and other players of blocking technical work that he says could have been addressed years ago. His intervention came on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord's, where Pakistan were bowled out for 110 runs in their first innings.

England built a lead of 388 runs in their second innings at Lord's, putting them on the verge of sealing the series. Yousuf did not name specific individuals in his post, but directed his remarks at those he says prevented him from working on the players' technical issues.

"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. 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," Yousuf wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter)

What is the context behind Yousuf's criticism?

Pakistan's difficulties in 2026 have been well documented across formats and venues. Earlier in the year, the side suffered a whitewash loss against Bangladesh, a result that drew widespread criticism. They then managed a 1-1 draw against West Indies in their second away series of 2026 before travelling to England for a three-match Test series running from August 19 to September 13, 2026. Pakistan's batting has come under scrutiny across all three assignments, with Yousuf arguing that the technical deficiencies on display were foreseeable and preventable.

Pakistan have had five different Test coaches since 2023-24, including Jason Gillespie, Aaqib Javed and incumbent Sarfaraz Ahmed. Yousuf's post did not identify any coach by name, but his criticism was aimed squarely at those he holds responsible for the team's persistent batting frailties.

What is Babar Azam's status in the England series?

Babar was ruled out of the first Test against England after sustaining an injury during a warm-up match in Beckenham. He returned to lead the side as captain for the second Test at Lord's, where Pakistan's batting once again came under significant pressure. Babar was able to manage a score of just eight runs in the first innings.

With England holding a commanding position at Lord's, Pakistan face the prospect of entering the Edgbaston Test needing to avoid a series defeat. Yousuf's public intervention adds further pressure on the team's management ahead of that final match, scheduled from September 9 to 13.