Shoaib Akhtar: “Babar should learn to take singles like Virat, learn to improvise like him”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Legendary Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar believes that batsman Babar Azam needs to learn to play like India captain Virat Kohli.

Azam has scored 232 runs in five World Cup matches, which include two half-centuries, at an average of 46.40.

However, Akhtar noted that Azam needs to learn how to take singles like Kohli and “accelerate” his scoring once he brings up his half-century.

“I would like to tell Babar Azam that when you consider Virat Kohli your idol then you should also learn to play like him,” Akhtar was quoted as saying by the Deccan Chronicle. “Virat has scored runs in very difficult situations. Babar should learn to take singles like Virat, learn to improvise like him.

“If you look at players like Virat, Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson…all these guys accelerate their scoring after reaching fifty. Babar should learn from them. He should have [a larger] range of shots.”

Pakistan’s next World Cup match will be against New Zealand at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

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