Former pacemaker Shoaib Akhtar lashed out at Pakistan captain Babar Azam following the team’s five-pitch loss to England in the second T20I in Manchester on Sunday. Pakistan, despite putting 195 runs on the board for the loss of four wickets, was unable to defend the total with England captain Eoin Morgan starring 66 of 33 balls. Akhtar criticized Babar for his captaincy, saying the Pakistani captain seemed clueless with his decision-making.
Babar Azam looks like a lost cow to me. She’s out there, not knowing what to do. It is important for him to make decisions on his own so that he can help him become a better captain in the coming times, ”Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
“There are instructions that come from outside for him, there are three people in the field who are trying to help him. Babar will have to understand that the opportunities that come his way, but it won’t happen for the rest of his life, so he needs to capitalize on them as much as he can and emerge as a great brand. “
Akhtar’s criticism comes from Babar’s pace of scoring runs. Opening the batting, Babar and Fakhar Zaman led Pakistan to an explosive start with the pair notching up 72 runs in 8.2 overs. After Adil Rashid fired Zaman 36 of 22, Mohammad Hafeez took over, looting 69 of 36 balls. Babar himself scored half a century (56 of 44 balls with a strike rate of 127.27), but Akhtar felt that the Pakistan captain should have hit more aggressively after Zaman’s wicket crash.
“Speaking of his strike rate problem, he plays 127-130-135, he can speed up. I agree that Fakhar Zaman is playing fast, it is not necessary [accelerate]. But when Zaman came out, you have to play at your own pace of attack, like Eoin Morgan, Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow play, they look dominant. Our players seem scared. I don’t see any strength, ”Akhtar said.
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