Ramiz Raja: “He started trying [to take] singles and playing dot balls when he reached into the nineties and with that destroyed the rhythm of the game for his hundred runs”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja lashed out at batsman Babar Azam for wasting too many deliveries during his knock of 115 in the fourth ODI against England.

Azam’s knock of 115 came off 112 balls and included 13 boundaries and a six.

However, it wasn’t enough to lead Pakistan to victory as England escaped with a three-wicket win with three balls to spare behind Jason Roy’s 114.

“Babar Azam hit a century, but it was a hundred of the bygone era because his innings got choked when he was nearing his hundred,” Ramiz was quoted as saying by the Business Recorder. “He started trying [to take] singles and playing dot balls when he reached into the nineties and with that destroyed the rhythm of the game for his hundred runs.

“We are seeing selfishness, as players are playing for individual performances and milestones, which dismantles the overall efforts of the team.”

After the ongoing five-match ODI series against England, Pakistan will play two World Cup warm-up games against Afghanistan and Bangladesh in Bristol and Cardiff on May 24 and 26 respectively.

They will then begin their World Cup campaign against the West Indies in Nottingham on May 31.

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