Mohammad Yousuf, former Pakistan captain and batting coach, has launched a scathing attack on coaches associated with the national cricket setup, accusing them of failing to address technical weaknesses in the batting of Babar Azam and other Pakistan players. His strongly worded comments came amid another difficult period for Pakistan cricket, with the team’s batting struggles once again coming under intense scrutiny during the ongoing Test series against England.
In a social media post on Sunday, Yousuf claimed that he had identified technical problems in the batting of several Pakistan players years ago but was prevented from working with them on those issues. According to the former Pakistan batting coach, weaknesses that could have been corrected at an earlier stage have now developed into major vulnerabilities.
Yousuf went as far as describing the coaches he was referring to as “poison for the game”, accusing them of lacking vision, blocking player development and providing poor guidance to talented cricketers.
Mohammad Yousuf Blames Coaches For Pakistan’s Batting Decline
Yousuf’s criticism centred primarily on the technical development of Pakistan’s batters. Mohammad Yousuf claimed that he had warned about the problems several years ago, including issues involving Babar Azam, but said that some coaches around the players did not allow him to address them.
His argument is that technical weaknesses in elite-level cricket can become increasingly difficult to correct when they remain unaddressed over an extended period. Mohammad Yousuf believes that Pakistan’s current batting problems are, at least partly, the result of allowing those weaknesses to continue.
The former Pakistan batter said the situation has now reached a stage where Pakistan’s shortcomings are being exposed against international opposition in different conditions. Mohammad Yousuf specifically pointed to Pakistan’s performances from Bangladesh to England, arguing that the weaknesses he had identified earlier have now become glaring problems for the national side.
“These Coaches Are Poison For The Game”
Mohammad Yousuf’s choice of words made his criticism particularly striking. His comments have sparked a fresh debate over the coaching structure surrounding Pakistan’s national team and the way technical flaws are addressed.
He accused the coaches in question of lacking the vision required to develop international-level players and suggested that poor coaching decisions had prevented talented cricketers from making necessary technical adjustments. Mohammad Yousuf also warned Pakistan’s players about the importance of identifying reliable voices within the cricket setup.
In his view, players need to understand which advice can genuinely improve their game and which guidance could potentially hold them back. Mohammad Yousuf’s comments therefore went beyond criticism of individual performances and represented a broader challenge to Pakistan’s coaching culture and the way technical development is handled within the national setup.
Babar Azam Again Under The Spotlight
Babar Azam has been at the centre of the latest debate, particularly because of his continuing struggles in Test cricket. Mohammad Yousuf’s remarks have added further attention to the technical aspects of Babar’s batting and the guidance he has received throughout his international career.
During the second Test against England at Lord’s, Babar was dismissed for just six runs in Pakistan’s second innings. His failure came at a particularly difficult moment for Pakistan, which was attempting to recover from another substantial batting collapse.
Babar’s recent Test form has attracted considerable attention, with his last Test century coming in December 2022. Despite producing several strong innings and coming close to three figures on occasions, he has been unable to convert those opportunities into another Test hundred.
His struggles have inevitably intensified questions about his technique, confidence and the support structure around one of Pakistan’s most important batters. Mohammad Yousuf’s latest comments add another dimension to that debate by questioning whether Babar received the right technical guidance when problems were first identified.
Pakistan’s Batting Problems Exposed In England
The timing of Mohammad Yousuf’s criticism is significant because Pakistan’s batting has struggled badly during the England tour.
In the opening Test at Headingley, Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat by an innings and 103 runs. Their batting failed to provide sustained resistance, allowing England to take control of the match.
The problems continued at Lord’s. Pakistan were bowled out for only 110 in their first innings after England had posted 290. Azan Awais provided some resistance with 46, but the rest of the batting order struggled against England’s pace attack.
Pakistan’s overall performance in the second Test once again highlighted the fragility of their batting unit. England’s bowlers were able to maintain pressure and repeatedly exploit weaknesses in Pakistan’s technique and shot selection.
For Mohammad Yousuf, these performances provide evidence of the problems he says should have been addressed years earlier.
England’s Pace Attack Adds To Pakistan’s Problems
Pakistan’s difficulties have been amplified by the quality and variety of England’s bowling attack.
At Lord’s, Ollie Robinson produced a superb spell and Jofra Archer also made a major impact. Pakistan struggled to build partnerships as England repeatedly found ways to put pressure on their batters.
The conditions in England naturally place significant demands on visiting batters. Movement off the pitch, pace through the air and the requirement to leave the ball effectively can expose even technically accomplished players.
That makes sound batting fundamentals particularly important. Mohammad Yousuf’s central argument is that Pakistan should have invested more heavily in correcting technical weaknesses before they became recurring problems at international level.
Yousuf’s Experience Adds Weight To His Criticism
Mohammad Yousuf is not an outsider commenting on Pakistan’s batting setup. He is one of the country’s most accomplished former batters and has also worked as a batting coach.
He was appointed Pakistan’s batting coach in 2025 and had previously been involved with the National Cricket Academy and Pakistan’s development structures. His experience as both an international batter and coach gives Mohammad Yousuf’s comments particular significance within the ongoing debate over Pakistan’s batting development.
Yousuf has long been regarded as one of Pakistan’s technically accomplished batters. During his playing career, he scored heavily in Test cricket and produced one of the most remarkable calendar years in the format in 2006, when he accumulated 1,788 Test runs.
His coaching experience also means that Mohammad Yousuf’s criticism is being viewed through the lens of someone who has previously been responsible for helping Pakistan batters improve their technique.
Yousuf Had Earlier Worked Within Pakistan’s Coaching Setup
Mohammad Yousuf’s latest comments also come after his departure from Pakistan’s coaching structure.
He resigned from his coaching responsibilities in 2025. Reports at the time described the decision as personal, with Yousuf not providing extensive details about the reasons behind his departure.
His latest remarks suggest that Mohammad Yousuf remains deeply concerned about the direction of Pakistan’s batting development.
By claiming that he had previously warned about technical flaws but was unable to work on them, he has effectively raised questions about decision-making within the coaching system and the extent to which different members of the support staff are able to influence players.
Former Cricketers Increasingly Question Pakistan’s Setup
The latest controversy is part of a wider wave of criticism surrounding Pakistan cricket.
Poor results have created an increasingly tense environment around the national team, with former players and officials publicly questioning selection decisions, player performances, injuries and coaching methods.
Former chief selector Mohammad Wasim has also entered the debate, raising questions surrounding Imam-ul-Haq’s calf injury during the second Test at Lord’s. The growing number of public disagreements among former Pakistan players reflects the wider frustration surrounding the national team’s recent performances.
Instead of criticism being limited to match analysis, former players are increasingly discussing the structures behind Pakistan cricket, including coaching, selection and player management.
Pakistan’s Recent Overseas Struggles Add To Pressure
Pakistan’s problems have not been limited to a single Test match or one particular batting lineup.
The team has struggled significantly in overseas conditions, while repeated batting collapses have made it difficult for the side to compete consistently against top opposition. The England series has therefore become another example of a broader concern rather than an isolated failure.
The pressure is particularly significant for Babar Azam, who remains one of Pakistan’s most prominent players and has returned to the Test captaincy in 2026. His performances are closely linked to expectations surrounding the team, meaning every failure attracts considerable attention.
Mohammad Yousuf’s comments have now placed additional focus on the relationship between Babar and the coaches who have worked with him over the years.
Coaching Under The Microscope As Pakistan Makes Changes
Pakistan’s struggles in England have already led to major changes within the team management.
Following two heavy defeats in the three-Test series, the Pakistan Cricket Board replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with white-ball coach Mike Hesson ahead of the third Test. Seven players were also sent home, including Babar’s former captaincy colleagues Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha, as well as Imam-ul-Haq, who was injured.
The changes underline the seriousness of the situation facing Pakistan cricket.
The team had failed to score more than 200 in any innings during the first two Tests, while its batting collapses placed enormous pressure on the bowling attack. The PCB’s decision to make significant changes before the third Test indicates that concerns extend beyond individual players.
Against that backdrop, Yousuf’s criticism of the coaching structure has arrived at a particularly sensitive moment.
A Bigger Debate Over Player Development
At the heart of Yousuf’s argument is a broader question: how should an international cricket team identify and correct technical weaknesses?
For established players, making major changes to batting technique can be complicated. A batter may have developed a method over thousands of deliveries, and changing elements of footwork, balance, shot selection or movement can require significant time and confidence.
That is why Yousuf believes the best opportunity to address technical weaknesses may have been several years ago, when the problems were easier to correct.
His criticism suggests that Pakistan needs a more consistent long-term approach to player development rather than repeatedly reacting after poor performances.
What Yousuf’s Comments Mean For Babar Azam
For Babar, the debate comes at a crucial stage of his career.
The Pakistan star remains one of the country’s most technically gifted and internationally recognized batters, but his recent Test performances have generated questions about his consistency in the format.
Yousuf’s argument is not simply that Babar is struggling. Instead, he has suggested that the player may have been denied the opportunity to correct certain technical weaknesses when they were first identified.
Whether that assessment is accepted within Pakistan cricket remains to be seen. However, it has added significant pressure on the coaching staff and on the wider system responsible for developing the country’s leading players.
Pakistan Cricket Faces A Critical Period
Pakistan’s immediate priority will be to rebuild confidence and competitiveness after a difficult England tour. The third Test at Edgbaston offers the team an opportunity to respond, but the problems highlighted by the first two matches will not disappear overnight.
The PCB’s coaching changes, squad reshuffle and the growing public criticism from former players indicate that Pakistan cricket is entering a period of reassessment.
Mohammad Yousuf’s explosive remarks have intensified that process. His accusation that unnamed coaches were “poison for the game” has placed technical development and coaching decisions firmly at the centre of the discussion.
For Pakistan, the challenge now extends beyond winning individual matches. The team must determine how to identify technical weaknesses early, provide players with consistent and credible guidance, and build a coaching structure capable of developing talent over the long term.
As Pakistan attempts to recover from its struggles in England, Yousuf’s warning will remain an important part of the conversation: problems that can be corrected early can become much harder to fix when they are allowed to persist for years.
