Pakistan’s white-ball captain and star batter Babar Azam engaged in extensive fitness training ahead of the two-match home Test series against Bangladesh.

The Test series, scheduled to commence on August 21 is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) and is crucial for the Green Shirts for their qualification for the final.

Following the home assignment against Bangladesh, Pakistan will host England for a three-match Test series and thus Babar is focused on maintaining his physical strength and fitness, highly essential to match the needs of the longest format.

In a video shared across social media platforms, Babar Azam was seen doing several exercises in a bid to remain prepared for Pakistan’s busy international season 2024-25.

Earlier this week, Babar Azam met Australia’s leading power-hitting coach Shannon Young in Lahore.

The meeting took place at a local cricket club in Lahore during Young’s private visit to Pakistan. Babar Azam consulted Young about how to enhance power-hitting abilities to cater to the demands of modern-day cricket.

Following the meeting, the Australian power-hitting coach Young backed Babar amid criticism following the national team’s dismal campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

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In an interview with the local media outlet, Shannon Young termed Babar Azam a world-class player before asserting if a player of his calibre was in Australia, they would back him instead of criticising him.

“He [Babar] is well; he is a world-class player. If there was a player like Babar [Azam] in Australia, we would have been supporting him instead of criticising him,” said Young.

“In Australia, we back them in, and we say they’ve been world-class players, they’re gonna be world-class players again.

“I think sometimes the passion tips over that these guys carry so much expectation through Pakistan’s one of the best players in the world; he’s gonna be fine.”

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