Umar Gul: “They have ruined Babar Azam, focusing on strike-rate and changing his batting position has confused him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul said the current white-ball team management has ruined batsman Babar Azam by frequently altering his position in the batting order and placing unending emphasis on his strike-rate in T20Is.
Gul, who was recently appointed as Pakistan’s Test bowling coach, noted that these changes have only added to Azam’s confusion and contributed to a decline in his performances.
The 31-year-old’s most recent assignment for the men in green was a three-match ODI series against Australia, where he amassed 125 runs, which included a top score of 69, at an average of 41.66.
“They have ruined Babar Azam, focusing on strike-rate and changing his batting position has confused him,” Gul was quoted as saying by Khel Shel.
Azam is now captaining Pakistan in their two-Test series against the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago.
After that, the men in green will head to England to play a three-Test series from August 19 to 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