Rashid Latif: “Babar used to be Pakistan’s hope at one time but not anymore as there are other players who can do [better]”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former captain Rashid Latif believes batsman Babar Azam is no longer Pakistan’s hope as there are other players who are performing better than him.
Latif noted that Azam used to be the shining light of Pakistan cricket as he regularly scored runs and helped the team win matches.
Lately, though, his performances have taken a turn for the worse as he has struggled to post big scores on a consistent basis.
Azam recently featured in the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and made 62 runs in three matches at an average of 20.66.
He then proceeded to play in the 2025 Champions Trophy and amassed 87 runs in two games, which included a top score of 64, at an average of 43.50.
“Babar used to be Pakistan’s hope at one time but not anymore as there are other players who can do [better],” Latif told IANS as quoted by NDTV.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India in the Champions Trophy, which led to them getting knocked out in the group stage.
Their final game against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
The men in green are now facing New Zealand in a white-ball series and were demolished 4-1 in the T20Is.
Azam was not selected in the T20I team, but is part of the squad currently playing the three-match ODI series.
In the 1st ODI, he struck 78 runs, but it was not enough as Pakistan lost to New Zealand by 73 runs.
The 2nd ODI will take place on April 2 in Hamilton.
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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Raashid Lateef ‘s views are also now “Fersooda” and carry no weight. You can not belittle a player of Babar Azam’s stature just like that. A player of that stature comes in a lifetime. ay respect to him.