Babar Azam: “The thing about the Pakistan team is that there is pressure. I know that Usman has left so many things, so all of that would be in the back of his mind. But he has made every effort”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has defended new batting sensation Usman Khan, saying he is giving his full effort despite not having impressed at the international level so far.
Basit Ali: “Babar Azam has not learned captaincy and he does not want to. Why did he accept captaincy once again if he can’t improve?”
Image courtesy of: Unsplash
Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has ripped into Babar Azam for not wanting to learn and improve as captain.
Ramiz Raja: “When [the] ball doesn’t swing and he bowls full, then Shaheen gets hit for runs. He needs to develop length deliveries and change of pace in his [armoury], especially when [the] pitch is not helping him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi “gets hit for runs” when the “ball doesn’t swing”.
Nasser Hussain: “If Pakistan is chasing 180, I’m sceptical due to their middle order vulnerabilities. For targets around 160, I think they can chase comfortably. Babar and Rizwan tend to play cautiously, causing them to fall behind in higher chases”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former England captain Nasser Hussain said Pakistan limited overs skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s cautiousness when batting hurts the team in T20Is.
Basit Ali: “He should be the one batting through and not worry about the strike-rate. Pakistan’s middle order now have hard hitters but the base at the top must be great”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has advised white-ball captain Babar Azam not to worry about his strike-rate in T20Is and instead focus on scoring runs regularly.
Naseem Shah: “You cannot ignore what people say on social media completely, that’s the truth but if someone talks good, take it and if someone talks [bad], then we ignore it”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah said it is impossible for him to completely ignore what people say on social media.
Pakistan seamer Haris Rauf: “Making a comeback is not easy but if one has [delivered] performances in the past, it is not difficult for the team to select [him] again”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan pace bowler Haris Rauf had no doubt he would be selected again after returning from the dislocated shoulder that kept him out of action for a few months.
Shahid Afridi: “I need Shadab to deliver with the ball. Whenever he has performed with the ball, Pakistan have won”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan six-hitter Shahid Afridi believes if spinner Shadab Khan starts getting wickets again, the men in green will win matches.
Ramiz Raja: “Either he has to play reverse sweep, sweep shot or switch hit against spin or he has to use his footwork and dominate the spinners because that domination factor ends as soon as a spinner comes [on to bowl]. So, Babar needs to work a lot on this area”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja said limited overs captain Babar Azam “needs to work a lot” on his batting against spin as he has a noticeable weakness against such bowling.
Kamran Akmal: “Play the deserving ones, tell me why Abrar [Ahmed] still isn’t playing?”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal admitted he is unsure why mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed hasn’t been given a chance to play for the national team lately.
