Basit Ali: “They don’t listen to the coaches. Whatever the batting coaches say, they just keep pretending to listen. They need someone who can give them a wake-up call, like Inzamam, Yousuf, or Younis Khan”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali feels batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan need a “wake-up call” from legendary players like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan.
Basit claimed Azam and Rizwan “keep pretending to listen” to the coaches when it comes to their batting.
Both players were recently involved in Pakistan’s three-match ODI series against the West Indies, which Pakistan lost 2-1.
Azam mustered 56 runs at an average of 18.66, while Rizwan, who captains the men in green in ODIs, finished with 69 runs, which included a top score of 53, at an average of 23.
Given that they both failed to perform, Basit thinks it’s time for Inzamam, Yousuf or Younis to step up and ensure the duo change their ways.
“They don’t listen to the coaches. Whatever the batting coaches say, they just keep pretending to listen. They need someone who can give them a wake-up call, like Inzamam, Yousuf, or Younis Khan,” he said on The Game Plan as quoted by NDTV.
Following the West Indies tour, Pakistan faced the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, which they won.
They are now playing in the 2025 Asia Cup, which is taking place in the UAE.
The men in green started with a 93-run win over Oman before losing to India by seven wickets.
They bounced back with a 41-run win over the UAE, which earned them a spot in the Super Four.
Pakistan’s next match will be against India on September 21 in Dubai.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
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