Basit Ali: “Babar Azam has not learned captaincy and he does not want to. Why did he accept captaincy once again if he can’t improve?”
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Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has ripped into Babar Azam for not wanting to learn and improve as captain.
Azam is currently in his second stint as captain after being handed the leadership role in limited overs cricket in March 2024.
However, with the men in green not having enjoyed the best results lately, Basit questioned why the 29-year-old isn’t taking the necessary steps to improve his captaincy skills.
“Babar Azam has not learned captaincy and he does not want to. Why did he accept captaincy once again if he can’t improve?” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Azam captained Pakistan in a five-match T20I series against New Zealand in April 2024 and made 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 31.25 and a strike-rate of 138.88.
He then proceeded to amass 132 runs, which included two fifties, at an average of 44 and a strike-rate of 148.31 in the three-match T20I series against Ireland.
Following this, Pakistan took on England in a four-match T20I series and Azam struck 68 runs in two games at an average of 34 and a strike-rate of 141.66.
He is now leading the men in green in the 2024 T20 World Cup and has accumulated 90 runs in three games at an average of 30 and a strike-rate of 104.65.
Pakistan lost their first two matches against the United States of America and India before securing a vital seven-wicket win over Canada.
Next up for them will be a clash against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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