Wasim Akram: “Dropping Babar Azam is the need of the hour. Pakistan needs batters who can bat at a strike-rate of around 150”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Legendary Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram said dropping batsman Babar Azam from the T20I team “is the need of the hour”.

He noted that Azam has not done enough to justify his place in the squad and insisted the selectors must replace him.

In regards to who should take the 31-year-old’s spot, Wasim said it should be a batsman who can maintain a strike-rate of around 150.

“Dropping Babar Azam is the need of the hour. Pakistan needs batters who can bat at a strike-rate of around 150,” the Sultan of Swing was quoted as saying by respected journalist Saj Sadiq on X.

Azam is currently captaining Pakistan in a two-Test series against the West Indies and began by making scores of 23 and 58 not out in his side’s 90-run loss in the 1st Test.

The 2nd Test will be held in Trinidad and Tobago from August 2 to 6.

After this, Pakistan will tour England for three Tests from August 19 to September 13.

Pakistan Squad for West Indies Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, 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, 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

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