Basit Ali: “Babar Azam needs to learn batting from Motie. He knows when to go forward and when to play back. Even top players should always keep learning”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has slammed Babar Azam, saying he should let West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie teach him how to bat.
His comments come after Azam failed to impress in the two-Test series against the West Indies, where he mustered 45 runs at an average of 11.25.
Motie, on the other hand, made 92 runs, which included a career-best 55, at an average of 23.
He also took seven wickets at an average of 25.71 as the two-Test series ended as a 1-1 draw.
“Babar Azam needs to learn batting from Motie. He knows when to go forward and when to play back. Even top players should always keep learning,” Basit said on his YouTube channel as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
After the West Indies Tests, Azam took part in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and accumulated 62 runs in three games at an average of 20.66.
He then featured in the 2025 Champions Trophy and struck 87 runs in two matches, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
Next up for Pakistan will be a limited overs tour of New Zealand, where they will play five T20Is and three ODIs from March 16 to April 5.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir
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