Rashid Latif: “Babar is no longer a player of this format. Where did it improve? Why did you bring him back?”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has questioned why Babar Azam was brought back to the T20I team, arguing that there has been no noticeable improvement in his game.
Azam previously enjoyed success as Pakistan’s go-to opener, but his strike-rate has long been a point of criticism.
Although the 31-year-old has recently been batting at number four, Latif noted that the same concerns persist, with little change in his overall approach.
“Babar is no longer a player of this format. Where did it improve? Why did you bring him back?” he was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Azam was recently named Test captain again and will now lead Pakistan in their two-Test series against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago from July 25 to August 6.
Pakistan will then take on England in a three-Test series between August 19 and September 13.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah
Pakistan Squad for England Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah