Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has been navigating a prolonged period without a Test century, extending for over 1300 days and 36 innings. This stark absence of triple-digit scores marks a significant shift for a batsman renowned for his prolific run-scoring in the format. His last Test hundred, a commanding 161 against New Zealand in December 2022, capped a stellar year where he amassed 1,184 runs, including four centuries. However, the subsequent years have seen him consistently fall short of this milestone, despite often making valuable contributions. This drought has persisted through various series, both home and away, and has become a recurring narrative in discussions surrounding his performance and the team's fortunes.
Babar's journey through this century-less phase has been characterized by near misses and a sequence of scores that hinted at a breakthrough, yet never quite materialized into the coveted hundred. His struggles became particularly pronounced in 2024 and 2025, where he managed to register several half-centuries, including an 81 against South Africa and an 88 against West Indies, but the elusive three-figure mark continued to evade him. The latest series against England further highlighted this challenge, with low scores in critical matches. The persistent questions surrounding his ability to convert promising starts into substantial hundreds have become a focal point, especially given his leadership role and the team's reliance on his batting prowess.
The Prolonged Century Drought and Near Misses
Babar Azam's Test century drought, now spanning over 1300 days and 36 innings, represents a notable shift for a player once known for his frequent triple-digit scores. His last Test hundred, a magnificent 161 against New Zealand in December 2022, concluded a remarkable year for the Pakistani captain, where he dominated the Test arena with four centuries and accumulated 1,184 runs. This extended period without a century has sparked considerable discussion, as he has consistently made contributions, often scoring in the 50s and 60s, but has been unable to convert these starts into the significant scores that define a top-tier batsman. The statistical anomaly is particularly striking given his overall career record and his established reputation as one of the world's leading batsmen.
The dry spell for Babar Azam commenced immediately after his last century. In the very next innings against New Zealand, he was dismissed for 14, followed by scores of 24 and 27 in the subsequent Test. The 2023 tour of Sri Lanka saw him register scores of 13, 24, and 39, while the Australian tour yielded 21, 14, 1, 41, 26, and 23 across three Tests. Although the 41 at Melbourne was his highest score during that period, it was another instance of an innings ending prematurely before a significant hundred could be built. In 2024, his struggles intensified with scores of 0, 22, 31, and 11 against Bangladesh, and a 30 against England, where he was dismissed LBW while teammates secured centuries. Despite breaking his fifty drought in South Africa with scores of 50, 58, and 81, he still fell short of the hundred mark, with the 81 being a particularly agonizing near miss, just 19 runs shy of his tenth Test century. The trend continued into 2025, where despite an improved year-end aggregate, his highest score remained 81, showcasing a persistent challenge in crossing the century threshold. The 2026 series against West Indies saw him reach 88 before being run out due to a mix-up, again denying him a hundred. Even a subsequent 68 against Bangladesh before the England series further highlighted his inability to convert promising starts.
Impact on Team Performance and Recent Challenges
Babar Azam's protracted century drought in Test cricket has inevitably led to questions about its broader impact on the Pakistani team's performance, especially during crucial series. While he has maintained a respectable average and contributed with valuable half-centuries, the absence of his characteristic match-winning hundreds can place additional pressure on other batsmen and the team as a whole. His leadership role further magnifies the significance of his individual form, as consistent big scores from the captain are often a catalyst for team success. The team's struggles in certain matches during this period, such as the loss to England by an innings and 103 runs, underscore the importance of top-order batsmen converting their starts into substantial, impactful scores that can dictate the flow of a Test match.
The challenges for Babar Azam intensified in 2024, particularly during the series against Bangladesh and England. Against Bangladesh, his low scores of 0, 22, 31, and 11 across two Tests reflected a significant dip in form. The subsequent home series against England saw him manage only 30 in the first Test at Multan, falling victim to Chris Woakes on a pitch where his teammates, Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique, both achieved centuries. This extended his run of innings without even a Test fifty. However, his fortunes began to change towards the end of the year in South Africa, where he recorded his first Test fifty since the 161 against New Zealand. He then improved on this in the second Test at Cape Town, scoring 58 in the first innings and a crucial 81 in the second, narrowly missing what would have been his tenth Test century by just 19 runs. The year 2025 saw his calendar-year Test numbers improve significantly compared to the previous two years, yet the century remained elusive, with 81 being his highest score. In 2026, he had a significant missed opportunity, scoring 88 against West Indies before being run out. Although he made a valuable 58 not out in the first Test of that series, Pakistan still lost by 90 runs. Before the recent England tour, he also notched 68 and 47 against Bangladesh, but again, failed to convert these into a hundred. His return to the England series after a finger injury saw him struggle with low scores of 8 and 6, highlighting the continued challenge in breaking this prolonged century drought.
