Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has demanded the current skipper Babar Azam to adopt a more aggressive mindset while leading the side on the field.
Shoaib Akhtar’s critical assessment of Babar Azam’s captaincy came in the light of India’s Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan’s century partnership that allowed India to make a come back in the game in Pallekele in the Asia Cup 2023.
Although Pakistan bowled India out for 266, Shoaib Akhtar felt it should have been much had Babar Azam not bowled for so long in the middle-overs with his spin trio of Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Salman Ali Agha after the pacer had India in trouble at 66/4.
“I don’t think Babar should have given that many overs to spinners. He could have kept the pace battery intact from one end and a spinner from the other. That is where I disagree with Babar, he used spin too much and gave up on the attack,” Shoaib Akhtar said on Star Sports.
Babar Azam’s mindset has to be aggressive: Shoaib Akhtar
Hardik and Kishan staged a fighting partnership of 138 runs off 141 balls in which they took the attack to the three spinners. It was only when near the 40th over that Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi were brought back both these batsmen were dismissed.
Akhtar asserted that Babar Azam should look to bowl the opponent out as early as possible instead of waiting to bowl all 50 overs.
“He is a far more better captain than he was two years ago. Babar’s mindset has to be aggressive he should keep thinking about taking wickets and bowl out the opposition, and not let the bowlers bowl the entire 50 overs,” Akhtar added.
India and Pakistan will meet again in the Super 4 round on September 10 in Colombo. They also have a chance to clash again in the final on September 10. Pakistan have started the Super 4 round with a big 7-wicket win over Bangladesh in Lahore and now all remaining matches will be played in Colombo.
