Umar Akmal has revealed that former Pakistan captain Babar Azam once sought his advice on playing against spinners.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Akmal recalled, “Babar came to me and said, ‘Umar bhai, I’m having a bit of trouble with spinners.’”
Akmal suggested adjustments to Babar’s grip and focus, advising him to track the ball carefully and choose shots accordingly.
Babar, once dominant against spin with an 82.1 average (until 2021), has seen a decline in recent years. His strike rate fell from 77.7 in 2023 to 60.3 in 2025, and he has been dismissed by spinners 20 times in his last 39 innings.
While Akmal believes Babar can regain form, he appeared distant when asked about their current relationship, stating, “Everyone has their own life.”
