Harsha Bhogle: “I’ve been an admirer over the years of Babar Azam. It doesn’t matter which team you’re playing for – when a great player looks ordinary, it makes you feel bad. And I’m afraid Babar Azam looked ordinary”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said Pakistan batsman Babar Azam is looking ordinary at the moment.
Ahmed Shehzad: “The real issue is simple, it’s not his number, he’s out of form, and he hasn’t delivered impactful performances for the last three years”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has said that Babar Azam has not delivered an impactful performance for the past three years.
Shoaib Malik: “Many people say that T20 cricket has changed. Even if it [has] changed, you still need an anchor”
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Former Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik believes Babar Azam still has a future in T20Is as the national team needs someone who can play the anchor role.
Ahmed Shehzad: “PCB did a big mistake by appointing Babar Azam as a captain. He was very good performer but did not have leadership qualities”
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Pakistan cricketer Ahmed Shehzad believes the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a “big mistake” by naming Babar Azam captain in the past as he doesn’t have any leadership qualities.
Rashid Latif: “Babar Azam must bat at number three or else [he] should be dropped from the line-up”
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Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Rashid Latif believes Babar Azam should bat at number three or be left out of the T20I line-up altogether.
Umar Gul: “They have ruined Babar Azam, focusing on strike-rate and changing his batting position has confused him”
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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.
Faf du Plessis: “It starts with honesty. That’s the groundwork of any conversation that happens. Once you’re honest in your conversation as a coach, everything flows from that”
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South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis has advised Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson to have a candid conversation with Babar Azam about his T20I future, saying “it starts with honesty”.
Rashid Latif: “Babar is no longer a player of this format. Where did it improve? Why did you bring him back?”
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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.
Salman Butt: “We often say that Babar Azam can’t hit sixes. But my question for all those people is – is hitting sixes an achievement or a qualifying thing? Doesn’t a boundary also count as four runs?”
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Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has come to Babar Azam’s defence, questioning the heavy focus on his inability to hit sixes.
Ramiz Raja on Babar Azam and Saim Ayub: “Number four is not Babar’s ideal position. Honestly, he should open the innings. Considering Saim Ayub’s current form, he can be utilised as a floater in the middle order”
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Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja believes Babar Azam should be reinstated as an opener in T20Is, with Saim Ayub shifting into a floating role in the middle order.
