In cricket, exceptional players who can carry their teams to victory on their own are often the centre of attention. For the Indian cricket team, players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have repeatedly shown that they are capable of winning matches. The situation seems to be quite different for Pakistan, however, as concerns have been raised regarding burgeoning star Babar Azam’s capacity to win games and lead his side to victory.
After former Pakistani cricket player Shahid Afridi expressed his doubts about Babar Azam’s ability to close out games, cricket fans got into a furious dispute. Babar Azam doesn’t seem to have the same winning potential for the Indian squad as players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, according to Afridi.
He says that Babar scores his 50-60 runs and then gets out. He is not like KL Rahul or Virat Kohli who will close out and win games.
Babar Azam Is Not A Match Winner Like Virat Kohli Or KL Rahul: Shahid Afridi
He said: “Babar Azam scoring runs is one thing, and Babar Azam scoring runs that lead Pakistan to victory is an entirely different matter. Players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul play, score runs, and contribute to their team’s victories.”
Afridi also stated that if Babar needs to prove himself as a big player, then he needs to stay at the top level consistently. He needs to show the world that he can consistently win games under pressure.
He added: “They say that Babar is a big player, see, reaching the top is one thing, but you have to maintain that poise as well. I really want to see Babar Azam win matches for Pakistan, but unfortunately, he doesn’t instil the confidence that he can single-handedly secure victory for Pakistan when he steps up to the crease. We have faith in his ability to score 50-60 runs, but we lack the assurance that he will win matches for Pakistan.”
The cricketing community has had a lot of conversations over Afridi’s frank appraisal. It’s critical to analyse this matter in more detail and comprehend the subtleties of Babar Azam’s performances and his position on the Pakistan cricket squad. In order to fully understand Shahid Afridi’s criticism, we need to examine some of Babar Azam’s most recent performances. Even though Azam is considered one of the best batters in contemporary cricket, his ability to seal matches for Pakistan has come under fire.
Just nine runs were scored by Babar Azam in the World Cup encounter against Bangladesh. While Babar Azam’s consecutive half-centuries against Afghanistan and South Africa demonstrated his talent, his inconsistent performances cast doubt on his ability to consistently win games.
It has been an incredible journey for Babar Azam to play international cricket. He has often been likened to cricket greats Joe Root and Virat Kohli. He has a lot expected of him, and as a young leader and batter, it’s important to recognise the obstacles he must overcome.
Azam’s duties as captain also include maintaining player morale, guiding the squad, and making strategic choices. Even the most seasoned cricket players may find this job daunting, and for Azam—who is still relatively early in his career—it adds even more complication.
Shahid Afridi 🗣️ –
“Babar Azam sirf apne 50-60 runs karne aate h aur chle jaate h, Babar #ViratKohli𓃵 aur #KLRahul ki tarah match winner nhi h,jise hum Virat or KL jaise umeed kare k match jita k ayega” pic.twitter.com/Nud2fnQ5iy
— KL Siku Kumar (@KL_Siku_Kumar1) October 31, 2023
