Moin Khan: “No doubt, Babar Azam is an extraordinary cricketer, but under his leadership, Pakistan has not won any major events, and that must add extra pressure on him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Moin Khan believes Babar Azam “is an extraordinary cricketer”, but had doubts about his leadership skills as the men in green failed to win any major ICC tournaments.
His comments come after Azam stepped down as Pakistan’s limited overs captain – a decision many saw coming following a string of poor results.
Moin feels the failure to win any big competitions would have added even more pressure on the 30-year-old, who hasn’t been in good form with the bat either.
“No doubt, Babar Azam is an extraordinary cricketer, but under his leadership, Pakistan has not won any major events, and that must add extra pressure on him,” he told Cricket Pakistan.
Azam recently featured in Pakistan’s two-Test series against Bangladesh and mustered 64 runs at an average of 16.
He then played for the Stallions in the Champions One-Day Cup, which was a domestic 50-over competition held in Faisalabad.
In four matches, the Lahore-born batsman made 230 runs, which included a century and a fifty, at an average of 76.66.
Azam then took part in the first Test against England and made scores of 30 and 5.
He was rested for the second Test, which Pakistan won by 152 runs, and won’t be part of the playing XI for the third Test either, which begins on October 24 in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan Squad for 2nd and 3rd Tests against England: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Hurraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Zahid Mahmood.
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