Former Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq expressed his criticism of captain Babar Azam’s batting approach during the 2023 World Cup. Razzaq suggested that Azam should take a page from Indian captain Rohit Sharma’s playbook in terms of prioritizing the team’s interests and adapting his style of play.
Babar Azam’s performance with the bat in the ongoing World Cup has left much to be desired, having scored 282 runs with an average of 40.28 and a strike rate of 82.70. It’s noteworthy that three of his four half-centuries came in matches that Pakistan ultimately lost.
Abdul Razzaq commended Fakhar Zaman for his aggressive intent, particularly in the recent match against New Zealand. He fondly recalled legendary players like Matthew Hayden, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, and Ricky Ponting, who had the ability to dominate and change the course of a game.
“No 1 batter is Fakhar Zaman. All New Zealand batters were praising him. Our captain doesn’t have that class. Look at Rohit, he is ready to score 10 runs in the first over and then 15 in the second. Our captain has different playing style, but he should see what Rohit is doing,” Razzaq said.
Razzaq emphasized the importance of unity within Team India, attributing their strong performance in the World Cup to the players’ national pride. He pointed to Virat Kohli’s celebratory reactions when his teammates scored runs as an example of this team spirit.
As of now, the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team has already secured a place in the semi-finals, holding the top position in the 10-team table. In contrast, the Babar Azam-led Pakistani team is still striving to secure a spot in the knockout stages.
