Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has ‘exposed’ Babar Azam’s number 1 ranking in the ICC ODI Batsman ranking.
The Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, has been at the receiving end of heavy criticism following his failures against India and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023.
Babar Azam had cracked 151 against Nepal at the start of the Asia Cup and climbed to the top of the ICC ODI batsman ranking. After that, however, he recorded scores of 17 vs Bangladesh, 10 vs India, and 29 vs Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s losses to India and Sri Lanka meant that they failed to qualify for the final of the continental tournament.
Babar has also received a huge amount of trolling for not stepping up with the bat in important and big-pressure games while accumulating runs against weaker opponents.
Does Babar Azam deserve the number 1 batsman ranking? Mohammad Amir answers
Mohammad Amir, the former seamer who is rumored to have had issues with Babar when the latter became the skipper, launched a scathing attack on Babar. When a news anchor said that Babar is the number 1 ranked ODI batsman, Amir explained that rankings will increase when Babar plays all matches, and piles on runs against weaker teams.
“About ICC ranking, I will tell you. Firstly, ICC’s ranking changes every week. Second, when, for example, out of your team’s 40 matches, you will yourself play all 40 matches, so you will score 25 in one game, 50 in another game, 70 in another game. So you will automatically come in the ranking.
“Why isn’t Jos Buttler in the batsman ranking? Why isn’t Quinton de Kock in it? Why isn’t Miller there in the ranking? Because when the B and C teams of opposition come, these guys don’t play. So when you are not playing matches, your points will decrease. If you [Babar Azam] is playing 40 out of 40 matches of your team, then you will surely come in the [top of] ranking.”
Watch the video here:
https://x.com/smileagainraja/status/1702955675494617154?s=20
Pakistan don’t have anymore matches before the World Cup. They will now play directly in the World Cup practice games. They have been dealt a big blow after Naseem Shah got ruled out of the World Cup due to a shoulder injury.
